Guitar

Benito Sanchez de Aguilera

1797 · Spruce or fir top, cypress back and ribs, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and frets, ebony nut, gut strings · Musical Instruments

This instrument was made by Benito Sanchez in Madrid in 1797. Towards the end of the 18th century most Spanish guitars had longer necks relative to the scale-length, in this case the guitar has a shorter body, accentuating the curves of the sides as a consequence. These accentuated curves would become an increasingly popular feature in early 19th-century guitar making in Madrid. Although the head and bridge are replacements, there is no reason to suppose that this was ever anything other than a six-course guitar. (Daniel Wheeldon, 2016) Technical description: Twelve string (six double course) guitar; two-piece pine top with rosewood binding and purfling of pine/rosewood/p/r, sound hole diameter of 83.55 mm with a binding of rosewood/pine/r/p/R/p/R/p/r/p/r r/p/r, rosewood mustachio tie bridge (probably not original); three-piece cypress back with rosewood spacers and binding; two-piece cypress ribs with rosewood spacer; mahogany (Spanish cedar) neck (likely not original); rosewood fingerboard, fourteen frets including ten gut frets tied to the neck and four inlaid rosewood frets (one missing); two-piece headstock (not original), twelve friction pegs. (Daniel Wheeldon, 2016)

Artist

Benito Sanchez de Aguilera

Date

1797

Medium

Spruce or fir top, cypress back and ribs, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and frets, ebony nut, gut strings

Culture

Spanish

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Purchase, Clara Mertens Bequest, in memory of André Mertens, 1990