Cleveland Museum of Art

Lute or Tiorbino

Date

c. 1620

Medium

wood

Culture

Italy, probably made in the mid-17th century, but modified by later repair

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The lute was the most important musical instrument in secular settings throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Not only a virtuoso instrument with a huge repertoire, the lute provided the ideal accompaniment for the voice, played an essential role in ensembles, figured in masques and operas, and was played by amateurs as well as professionals. A highly specialized instrument, this tiorbino is a type of long-necked lute resembling a theorbo, but significantly smaller and pitched an octave higher. An object of great rarity, it is one of the smallest Baroque tiorbinos to survive.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.