Gittern

Medieval

British Museum

circa 1330

Four stringed instrument - precursor to the guitar. Body and neck carved with naturalistic foliage, animals and grotesque figures. A silver plate covers the turning pegs, engraved with the arms of Queen Elizabeth and the badge of the Earl of Leicester.

• Medium: wood
• Dimensions: 62 cm
• Art Fund Grant: £2500 ( Total: £44,000)
• ArtFunded in: 1963

Provenance

By the eighteenth century belonged to the Duke of Dorset; R.Bremmer; by 1874 on loan from the Earl of Warwick to the South Kensington Museum.

Add your comments about this artwork Hide this form

Have your say