{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1781838"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1781838/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PB6878/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PB6878/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PB6878","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PB6879","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PB6880","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5852","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5838","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5837","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5835","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5834","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5833","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5832","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH5831","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1781838","accessionNumber":"LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1117:1 to 3-2024","objectType":"Guitar","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Harptone Lark 12-string acoustic guitar and case, used by David Bowie, 1970s.\n\n<b>Part 1: Guitar</b>\nA 12-string acoustic guitar in natural finish spruce and maple. It has a rosewood fretboard with pearlescent dot inlays. The headstock is black on the front, with a gold maker's stamp, two-pointed top, and has 12 silver metal tuning pegs. The neck is maple on the back with a thin rosewood strip running along the length. The pickguard is of tortoise-shell coloured plastic in a dovetail shape. A printed paper maker's label is attached inside the guitar. \n\n<b>Part 2: Note</b>\nInside the case is a small white piece of paper with a handwritten note indicating the serial number of the guitar.\n\n<b>Part 3: Case</b>\nThe guitar is housed inside a hardshell contour case, upholstered in black vinyl on the outside and grey synthetic fabric on the inside. The case has brass metal hardware and a black plastic handle, and has various printed stickers attached around the edges. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Harptone","id":"AUTH403973"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"wire","id":"AAT11063"},{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"glue","id":"AAT14815"},{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"synthetic fabric","id":"x33026"},{"text":"nylon","id":"AAT14462"},{"text":"foam rubber","id":"AAT14562"},{"text":"tape","id":"AAT14685"}],"techniques":[{"text":"machining","id":"AAT53154"},{"text":"assembling","id":"AAT53007"},{"text":"varnishing","id":"AAT53825"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"glueing","id":"AAT53012"},{"text":"moulding","id":"x46876"},{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"stamping","id":"x34899"},{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"},{"text":"handwriting","id":"AAT252927"},{"text":"upholstering","id":"AAT231992"},{"text":"machine-sewing","id":"AAT257463"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"<b>Part 1: Guitar</b>\nMachined, painted, glued and varnished wood with wire strings, moulded plastic, cast metal and stamped gold ink.\n\n<b>Part 2: Note</b>\r\nPrinted and handwritten ink on paper.\n\n<b>Part 3: Case</b>\r\nWood with glued and machine-sewn vinyl and synthetic fabric, cast metal, nylon, foam rubber, tape and printing ink on adhesive paper.","categories":[{"text":"David Bowie Archive","id":"THES394093"},{"text":"Entertainment and leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2025PB6878","2025PB6879","2025PB6880","2025PH5852","2025PH5838","2025PH5837","2025PH5835","2025PH5834","2025PH5833","2025PH5832","2025PH5831"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES299402"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES299402"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES299402"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"guitars","id":"AAT42025"}],[{"text":"notes","id":"AAT27200"}],[{"text":"cases","id":"AAT45659"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United States of America","id":"x29333"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x39722"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1972","earliest":"1967-01-01","latest":"1976-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Harptone Lark 12-string guitars were manufactured between the years 1967-1975. Dovetail pickguards indicate 1972 or after. "}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"DBA/5/7/7","id":"ARC257998"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Lent by the V&A Americas Foundation through the generosity of Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"112.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Guitar","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"43","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Guitar","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"12.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Guitar","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"116.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Case","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"48","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Case","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"16","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Case","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Note","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Note","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"HARPTONE","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 in gold on headstock of guitar"},{"content":"HARPTONE\r\n127 S. 15TH STREET\r\nNEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07107\r\nMODEL NO. L-6NC\r\nSERIAL NO. 2015-22\r\nHANDCRAFTED IN U.S.A","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed in black ink on paper label attached inside guitar."},{"content":"2015-22","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Handwritten in black ink on note."},{"content":"HARPTONE 12 LIGHT","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Embossed on plastic yellow label attached to top of case."},{"content":"STURICO \r\nSECURITY\r\nITY CONSULTANTS\r\nAL TOUR CO-ORDINATION\r\n59 2214/3051\r\nAD BECKENHAM KENT BR34SB\r\n(LONDON)\r\n","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed in blue on white sticker attached to outside of case."},{"content":"ABG #5565\r\nALLEGHE[...]\r\n\r\nPTO. U.S.A.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed on yellow label attached to handle of case."},{"content":"STURICO\r\nSECURITY\r\nSEC [...] ISTS\r\nINTERNATIONAL [...] RDINATION\r\n121 MACKENZIE R [...] HAM KENT BR34SB\r\n(LONDON)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed in blue ink on white sticker attached to outside of case."},{"content":"LONDON (VICTORIA)\r\nN499\r\nPARIS (NORD) P\r\nSTUCKZAHL 12","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed in black and red ink on brown paper label attached to outside of case."},{"content":"566561\r\nLAVANCHY","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed in black ink on green sticker attached to outside of case."}],"objectHistory":"The Harptone Lark acoustic guitar was a 'jumbo' bodied guitar produced between 1967 and 1975. The term 'jumbo' describes this type of guitar with a wide, rounded body, producing a loud, rich sound. The Harptone Lark was available in six-string or twelve-string versions.\n\nDavid Bowie favoured twelve-string acoustic guitars during his early career both for recording and performing due to their ability to create full, warm sound. This Harptone Lark 12-string and his Harptone Pioneer 12-string were Bowie's most commonly used guitars during the <i>Ziggy Stardust Tour</i> in 1972-3. This specific guitar was also played in the 1972 promotional video for the re-release of 'Space Oddity', filmed by Mick Rock (photos of this video shoot can be found in DBA/5/7/7). \n\nThis guitar shows all the signs of being a well-travelled, well-used instrument, with a snapped high E-string and several scratches and cracks. \r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Harptone Lark 12-string acoustic guitar and case used by David Bowie, 1970s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1117:1-2024","LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1117:2-2024","LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1117:3-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"1117","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"David Bowie Archive Number","id":"THES394108"},"number":"dbg0560"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2024-06-11","availableToBook":false}}