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"Winter" from "The Four Seasons" (Serial number 200)

2002
Not on view
The "Four Seasons" guitars are a complete musical ensemble conceived and built by the master luthier John Monteleone between 2002 and 2006. Each instrument is a beautiful sounding guitar with its own individual voice that also functions musically with the other members of the ensemble. "Winter" was the first guitar of the quartet built and was signed on April 25, 2002 and assigned serial #200. The guitar has a natural blond color with a nitro-cellulose lacquer. The two-piece quartersawn spruce top and two-piece maple back and sides are made from wood that Monteleone obtained from the workshop of James D'Aquisto. The "Winter" guitar has an eighteen-inch body and a large oval sound hole descending from the bass side to the treble. The bridge is made of two pieces of Macassar ebony with two set screws that allow for adjustment. The fingerboard, and binding for the body are made from Macassar ebony. Mother-of-pearl and silver triangles are used as position markers inlaid onto the fretboard. The same motif and materials are used as a truss-rod cover on the headstock. Small diamonds are inlaid on the side of the fingerboard as position markers above the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 19th frets. The bass side rib, which faces the player, has two elliptical sound holes that give the musician a better sound experience while playing. Inside, opposite the sound holes there is a painted winter night landscape with gem stones evoking stars.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Winter" from "The Four Seasons" (Serial number 200)
  • Maker: John Monteleone (American, Islip, New York born 1947)
  • Date: 2002
  • Geography: Islip, NY, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Tyrolean maple, Tyrolean spruce, curly red maple, Macassar ebony, sterling silver, mother-of-pearl, diamond, nickel plating, natural blonde nitro-cellulose lacquer finish
  • Dimensions: 44 × 18 in. (111.8 × 45.7 cm)
  • Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation Gift, in memory of Michael Allan Katz, 2017
  • Object Number: 2017.179.1
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

More Artwork
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"Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 203), John Monteleone American, Big-leaf maple, Tyrolean spruce, koa, Macassar ebony, curly red maple, stainless steel, spiny oyster coral stone, mother-of-pearl, diamond, gold plating, golden-brown nitro-cellulose lacquer finish, American
"Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 203)
John Monteleone
2005
"Spring" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 201), John Monteleone American, Red-tiger maple, Tyrolean spruce, Macassar ebony, curly red maple, mother-of-pearl, red abalone shell, turquoise, diamond, gold plating, blue nitro-cellulose lacquer finish, American
"Spring" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 201)
John Monteleone
2006
"Summer" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 202), John Monteleone American, Big-leaf maple, Tyrolean spruce, African red padauk, Macassar ebony, red coral stones, mother-of-pearl, ruby, diamond, gold plating, red nitro-cellulose lacquer finish, American
"Summer" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 202)
John Monteleone
2004
Mandolin, John Monteleone American, Bavarian spruce, red maple, Italian-American
Mandolin
John Monteleone
1996
Guitar, John Monteleone American, Alaskan spruce; European spruce; Indian rosewood; Honduran mahogany; Gaboon ebony; Bone; Brazilian rosewood; mother of pearl; abalone; grained ivoroid; Schaller tuners; Nitrocellulose lacquer., American
Guitar
John Monteleone
June 1989

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