HARPE-LUTE by Angelo Benedetto VENTURA in LONDON (1781-1856)
Signed along the fingerboard: “Angelo Venturas Imperial Harp Lute / N°36 Queen Street Brianstone Square”
Made under different types and different trade names, the harp-lute is a kind of portable harp played in the first half of the 19th c. to accompany the melodies as the guitar.
14 strings, four of which played on a fretted fingerboard.
This instruments has been repolished and marks of repair are visible.
From italian origin, Angelo Ventura emigrated to London around 1800. He patented the Harp-Lute (February 21st, 1828. N°5618) and a shifting bridge (“Ponte volante”). He patented also the “Ventura guitar”, which is characterized by the addition of an extra string and a double cutaway.”The top of the body at the bottom of the neck has on each side a half circle, cut out for the convenience of the performer in playing the very hight notes”…
He invented a tuning peg mechanism for 7 string guitar, called “Venturini” and a small guitar called “Venturina”…
Bibliography:
R. Vannes: Dictionnaire universel des luthiers, Bruxelles 1979, p.377.
Patents for inventions. Abridgments of spécifications relating to music and musical instruments. London 1871. / Tony Bingham 1984.
Provenance: Collection of the harp player Marielle Nordmann.
Longueur: 85,7cm
largeur: 35,5cm
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