Category:Guitar (ca.1630-50), attributed to Matteo Sellas, Venice, Italy. MET 1990.103

References[edit]

• Matteo Sellas [Attributed to] (ca. 1630–50). [1990.103] Guitar. Venice, Italy. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, since 1990, Accession Number: 1990.103 , ObjectID: 503385.
  "​ Maker: Attributed to Matteo Sellas (German, Füssen ca. 1599–1654 Venice) ",
  "​ Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings: Marking: “MS” scratched under top; false inscription “Matteo Sellas alla Corona in Venetia” engraved in plaque on head. ",
  "​ [Description] During the 17th century, amateurs in Italy, Spain, and southern France used the guitar to accompany songs and arias or to play solo pieces. In Italy, Venice was the guitar-manufacturing center and Matteo Sellas its most eminent luthier. The style of the instrument with scalloped snakewood ribs, bone striping and fanciful arabesques are hallmarks of the Venetian tradition of lute and guitar making. Engraved bone plaques, geometric bone and snakewood inlays further enrich the beauty of this restored guitar. Between the end of the 16th and the end of the 18th century, guitars had five double courses of gut strings, a decorative parchment rose placed in the sound hole, and a back that was often vaulted instead of flat. As musical taste changed during the second half of the 18th century many old guitars were refitted to adjust to contemporary taste. The rose, bridge and pegblock of this instrument were removed and five single strings were added. Prior to its arrival at the Metropolitan Museum the old fittings were reintroduced. "

Guitar 

chordophone-lute-plucked-fretted highlighted in The MET collection (MET 1990.103)
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Instance of	lute
Location	Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Creator	Matteo Sellas (attribution)
Collection	Metropolitan Museum of Art (collection highlight, 1990–)
Inventory number	1990.103 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Inception	17th century (after 1620, before 1660)
Authority file  Q29385611 The Met object ID: 503385 Reasonator Scholia Wikidocumentaries PetScan statistics WikiMap Locator tool KML file Search depicted