Cittern 1768

This cittern was made by Johannes Cuypers, likely in the late 18th century, using traditional lutherie methods. Look closely and you’ll see the familiar shape of the lute, but with a flat back rather than a rounded one. The body of the instrument has been carefully shaped from thin pieces of wood, likely spruce for the soundboard and perhaps maple for the back and sides. The neck, possibly made of ebony, is carefully fretted to allow for a full range of notes. The rosette is an intricate detail, cut with precision and then inlaid into the soundboard. A well-made cittern like this was a valuable object. Its production would have involved a division of labor, between those who sourced the materials and those who assembled them. The instrument represents both the refined tastes of its owner, and the skill of the craftsman who made it. Appreciating this connection helps us to understand the broader cultural context in which it was created.