Guitar, Mango Longo

Guitar, Mango Longo, Naples, 17th century, rosewood (?) spruce, ivory, mother of pearl. Provenance: purchase - Natale Gallini Collection (1961-1963). (inv. n. ST. MUS n. 277)

Born as a Baroque guitar, the instrument was modified to become a chitarra battente at an unspecified date. As a result the neck was shortened thus interrupting the complex and refined decoration and the sound box bent at the height of the bridge, while the strings were attached to the reinforced bottom of the guitar.