Name of Instrument: guitar

Maker / Brand: (through Franciolini)

Stearns Catalog #: 1098

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Chordophone

Date of Fabrication: 19th C.

Location: CHO H 2

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. In this case we have a delicate guitar-like instrument that exhibits moderately fine craftsmanship. Franciolini’s extant catalogues list a “Pessarolo di Zucca” that includes the following description, “inlaid mother-of-pearl, six strings, very fine”. This instrument probably passed through Franciolini’s hands, but in a rare twist, this particular instrument does not appear to have been altered by him.

Research: Dr. Bruce Mitchell Smith and Stearns Staff