{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O140020"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O140020/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN7939/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN7939/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AN7939","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O140020/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O140020","accessionNumber":"240-1881","objectType":"English guitar","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This version of the English guitar was played with keys and felt-padded hammers, a device which Chrisitan Claus, a London <i>luthier</i> patented in 1783 . The English guitar was very popular amongst ladies, and Claus's aim was to produce an instrument that they could play without damaging their nails on the wire strings, and which would make sounds like those of the now highly fashionable piano.","physicalDescription":"'Body and belly all of pine, with feather branding painted in red. Similarly painted simulated rose containing six diagonally placed holes through which small felted hammers spring out to strike the strings from below. Six small wooden keys on the lower left side of the belly actuate the hammers. Bridge missing. Ebony fingerboard with shaped end and twelve brass frets and three capotasto holes. Watch-key tuning. Finial broken.'. Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 52.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Claus, Christian","id":"A20197"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pine","id":"AAT12620"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"felt","id":"AAT14107"}],"techniques":[{"text":"planing","id":"AAT53863"},{"text":"sawing","id":"AAT53072"},{"text":"joining","id":"AAT137062"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved and planed pine body with brass frets","categories":[{"text":"Musical instruments","id":"THES48919"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AN7939"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES299373"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES299373"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES299373"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Back panel","id":""}],[{"text":"English guitar","id":""}],[{"text":"detached element","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1785","earliest":"1780-01-01","latest":"1789-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Symes","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"70","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"8.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"average","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Claus & Co. Inventor London, Patent-Instrument.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Stamped on belly."},{"content":"No 7 Garrard Street.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Stamped at base of belly."}],"objectHistory":"This instrument was given to the Museum by Mrs Symes of Gorphwysfa, Upper Bangor, Wales in 1881.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"part of guitar, English (London), 1783-90, Christian Claus\n\nEnglish, Christian Claus, London, 1783-90\n\nwith five keys(?), part of guitar, English (London), 1783-90, Christian Claus","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 52"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"ENGLISH GUITAR, \r\nPine soundboard and body, ebony finger board\r\nEngland, by Christian Claus; about 1785 \r\nMuseum No.: 240-1881.\r\n\r\nThe instrument is stamped on the back Claus & Co. Inventor, London. Patent-Instrument. It is displayed in such a way as to show Claus's keyed guitar mechanism.","date":{"text":"ca. 1995","earliest":"1990-01-01","latest":"1999-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["240:2-1881","240:1-1881","240:3-1881"],"accessionNumberNum":"240","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1881,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Back panel","English guitar"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-17","recordCreationDate":"2007-10-17","availableToBook":true}}