Cittern
John Preston
Category
Musical instruments, devices and recordings
Date
circa 1785
Materials
Ebony, Ivory, Metal, Wood
Measurements
280 mm (Width); 670 mm (Length)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1335350
Summary
English guitar. Preston. London, c.1785. Ebony and ivory head, unpainted wooden rose. Watch key tuning, patented by Preston in 1780. Plate marked 'Preston, Maker, London' on back of neck.'. 10 strings. Has capo tasto. Tuning plate engraved ‘Preston Inventor’ and the letters of the strings' notes. Ivory string holders and a foot. on end of body. Wooden ‘hook’ at end of neck with a black and white square on its end.
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Marks and inscriptions
Preston, Maker, London , Preston, Inventor (on tuning pegs)
Makers and roles
John Preston, maker