English Guitar

DateDated 1764

Artist/Maker Rauche

MediumSpruce: soundboard (very slow-growth) Maple with curly figure: neck Possibly maple with burl figure: sides and back Ebony: fingerboard, tuning pegs, bridge, nut Ivory: surrounding top pegbox decoration Brass: frets on fingerboard The compass-design of the rose hole is ebony and mother of pearl

DimensionsOverall length: 28 ¾”; Overall width: 11 5/8”; Overall height: 3 ½”

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1959-393

DescriptionEnglish guitar with sunburst rose hole decoration and pegbox ornament, both of ebony and mother-of-pearl. Ebony tuning pins, bridge. and fingerboard, the latter with brass frets. The soundboard is of fine-grained spruce and the sides and back of burl figure wood possible maple.
Label TextEnglish guitar inscribed by the maker "Rauche / London 1764." The English guitar shared with harpsichords and pianofortes the status of most favored musical instrument among women and girls in Britain and America.
Markings"Rauche / London 1764" in ink on the back at the base of the neck.
ProvenancePurchased from Otto M. Wasserman, New York