Keyed cittern
Claus & Co.
Category
Musical instruments, devices and recordings
Date
circa 1790
Materials
Wood, Metal, Felt, Brass
Measurements
300 mm (Width) x 100 mm (Depth); 690 mm (Length)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1335352
Summary
Keyed Cittern, Claus, London, c.1790. Marked 'CLAUS & Co, INVENTOR, LONDON' Six keys, operating hammers striking the strings through holes in the soundhole rose; 12 strings, arranged two singly, two in pairs, and two in threes. Royal Arms of George III on belly. Clock tuning, key on ribbon around neck. In notebook no.4, page 4 (1340945.4) Charles Wade refers to: 'Music Room 14. Keyed Guitar by Claus & Co. arms of Geo.III belonged to Lady Hamilton & was exhibited at the London Museum - it has six keys the hammer striking through the sound hole.''Bought July 1931 for £4'. (M. Jessup).
Provenance
bought July 1931 for £4. Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Marks and inscriptions
Claus and Co/Inventor/London
Makers and roles
Claus & Co., inventor
References
Wade, 1944: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 4 First and Second Floor, 1944, page 4