Medieval 5 course Lute c.1426

67cm, 5 courses; medieval lute based on iconographical sources circa 1426. 9 ribs of figured ash which flow in a smooth curve between body and neck. Two circular roses of gothic design; the large one based on the rose shown in the Flemish painting in Burgos Cathedral. Boxwood fingerboard and pegs. Designed to be played with a plectrum.

I have based this version partly on the fresco by del Cossa in Ferrara because it is so clear, however the date of this fresco is actually c.1470, in spite of the fact that the form of the lutes shown is somewhat old fashioned for the date and closer to that in other earlier sources such as Pera Sera and Sassetta. The bridge design I have taken from the sculpture by Luca della Robbia of 1426 which is one of the earliest five course lutes shown in the iconography. At the bottom of this page I've put a copy of the della Robbia to show the original bridge and a copy of the fresco so that you can compare shapes. My own version of the lute, though, is designed with arcs of circles, as I believe the medieval lutemakers did, and uses Golden Section proportions, which were also fashionable at the time.

Price: £3300
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