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RCM 315 English Guitar Longman, Lukey & Co, London, c.1770 Inscriptions Stamp on button of back: LONGMAN LUKEY & C o / N o 26 CHEAPSIDE / LONDON On front face of stump of tuning head: PRESTON Brief description English guitar (‘guittar’ or ‘cetra’) lacking tuning-head and bridge Dimensions : (currently 557: tuning-head missing) : to ends of ribs 342 : 290 : at neck joint 50.5, at tail 69.5 : 424 (twice distance to octave fret) Description Six courses, wire-strung; the lowest two single, the upper four double; tuned c, e, g, c1, e1, g1. Body of pear-shaped outline with two-piece flat front of wide to fine grain at edges; painted purfling: two lines at edges and three around soundhole. Domed ormolu rose in the form of
eight-pointed foliate star surrounded by garlands, set in turned ivory collar. Nine ivory hitchpins at tail and ivory saddle and tailpin. Dark golden-brown varnish. Ribs of maple with figure of moderate curl; one-piece back of maple of strong curl; two lines of painted purfling. Maple neck of slight curl. Fingerboard veneered in tortoiseshell with ebony edging and mother-of-pearl ornaments at both ends; twelve frets, the first five with holes for capo tasto drilled on bass side of centre line. Tuning-head missing. Fingerboard width: at nut 46.5mm, at joint 55.3mm. Soundhole diameter: 71.5mm. Commentary Longman, Lukey and Co traded from 1769–73 as instrument makers and dealers, music sellers, printers and publishers; from 1773 the firm became Longman, Lukey and Broderip. According to the stamp, this instrument was supplied by John Preston (see also English Guitars, RCM 161, 331, 332). Provenance Gift of Lady Leslie, 1966 References None located
English guitar, Longman, Lukey & Co, RCM 315 96