Name of Instrument: chitarrone

Maker / Brand:

Stearns Catalog #: 1043

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Chordophone

Date of Fabrication: late-19th C.

Location: CHO AA 1

Description: This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. The varying levels of craftsmanship indicate that this composite Chitarrone is made up of parts from at least three or four other instruments; alas, this is a “style” typical of Franciolini. The quality of the bowl and lower neck show the precision and care of an artist; the table and rosette are of inferior quality (the inlaid ivory has visible saw marks); and the upper neck is quite sloppy. While the Stearns Collection represents it as being of the late 19th Century; indeed the individual components of the instrument date earlier.

Research: Dr. Bruce Mitchell Smith and Stearns Staff