Dulcimer 1749

This dulcimer was made in Italy by Giovanni Antonio Berera, sometime in the 18th century. This instrument, with its ornate decorations, offers a window into the cultural life of its time. As a stringed instrument played with small hammers, the dulcimer occupies an interesting place at the intersection of class and gender. In the 1700s, music was a popular form of entertainment and expression, particularly among the upper classes. This dulcimer, crafted by a skilled luthier, suggests a patron with means and taste. Think about how the dulcimer might have functioned in social gatherings or private performances. Consider the hands that would have played it, perhaps those of a woman, whose musical accomplishments added to her social graces. The sounds of this dulcimer would have filled rooms with melody, accompanying stories of love, loss, and longing, much like the stories we continue to tell ourselves today.