Trillingszither
ALTERNATE NAME(S)
- Zither
- Triple zither
Date1775-1800 ca.
Place MadeTyrol, Austria, Europe
Place MadeGermany
ModelTriplet Zither / Trillingszither
Serial No.none
SignedTwo stamps on back of instrument: Joſeph Salzer / Wien / 111 Marxergasse 3DescriptionThis unusual zither features an intricately carved head, guitar-shaped body, and three fingerboards. Its origin is not known, though it is likely from the Tyrol or Bavaria.The ink stamp on the instrument is that of Joseph Salzer (1846-1923) of Vienna, industrialist and collector of various curiousities, including musical instruments.
Body:
Guitar-shaped wooden body with wide short black-painted neck at top similar to Stoessel lutes, but with more carved ornamentation; neck is a separate piece of wood from the body an is solid; 3 scrolls at top with center one being larger than the two symmetrical side scrolls; all three are carved; top and bottom of soundboard are separate pieces of wood attached to body with a liquid adhesive/glue; black painted border on top and side of soundboard; three fretboards, with carvings at bottom; border carving on sides, top and bottom of middle and right fretboards only, suggesting further that the left fretboard has been replaced; carvings at bottom of middle and left fretboard appear to have been painted red; all three carvings differ from one another; fretboards are attached with top and bottom screws; middle fretboard has a middle screw; 2 soundholes are located between middle and right fretboards, but not perfectly centered between the two; middle fretboard is actually left of center on soundboard and slightly overlaps the 2 soundholes; middle fretboard is not parallel to the others, as it angles slightly to the left, further showing proof of the instrument’s alteration; underneath and to the right of the left soundboard are what appear to have been former tuning pin holes; slight discoloration on base of scroll 1 ¼” tall possibly running the width of the base of the neck further showing the possibility of alteration; top soundhole is smaller than bottom one; centered between left and middle fretboard are holes in the soundboard forming a circle with a hole in the middle; elongated oval “slit” diagonally parallel to the bottom soundhole; could have been for original fretboard placement if instrument has been altered; all three nuts have the same border carvings as the middle and right fretboards; 2 wood saddles on bottom of instrument with metal wire across center; upper center and right saddle holds the strings for the middle and right fretboards with metal wire across center and is carved on the sides and middle in a fashion similar to the fretboards; lower and left wood saddle, also with metal wire across center, is also carved in a fashion similar to the fretboards and holds the strings to the left fretboard; 2 wood braces run the length of the soundboard and are located symmetrically on either side of the soundholes; block of wood on bottom rib possibly for standing instrument upright; on block of wood are crudely carved letters: “K” and “D” with a small “x” in between them; back of soundboard has 2 small identical stamps with black ink; one on the upper left of the back, the other on the lower middle of the back; both read: Joβeph Salzer / Wien / 111. (?Wienergasse—illegible); lower part of back is attached with what appear to be 5 metal, hand-hewn nails.
Tuning Pins:
34 metal, hand-hewn, flat-topped tuning pins of varying heights and widths.
Table-top Rests:
2 metal rounded table –top rests with two pieces of leather between them and the wood of the instrument; located on left and right sides of the back.DimensionsScroll to bottom front of soundboard: 34.5 in., 87 cm. 870 mm
Waist: 11.5 in. across, 29.5 cm., 295 mm
Width: 3 12/16 in., 9.5 cm., 950 mm.
Right fretboard: 14.8 in. long, 37.3 cm, 373 mm.
Left fretboard: 13 ¾ in., 35 cm., 350 mm.
Soundboard back: 27 in. long, 68.6 cm., 686 mm.ProvenancePreviously owned by Joseph (Josef) Salzer, Vienna
Purchased by Paul Christian in 1980 from Lillian Caplin, Center for Musical Antiquities, New York, New York, 12/2/1980
Paul and Jean Christian Collection, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2006.
Credit LinePaul and Jean Christian Collection, 2006
Object number12721
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