Guitar 1831 - 1841

This guitar was made by Christian Frederick Martin, though we don’t know precisely when. Martin was a luthier, a maker of stringed instruments, who emigrated from Germany to the United States in the early 19th century. He’s best known for his steel-string acoustic guitars, which became hugely popular in the 20th century. But this example is more delicate. Note the light-colored wood, likely spruce, carefully bent and joined to form the body. The neck is made of a darker wood, probably ebony, and the tuning pegs are made of brass. The guitar would have been made using a combination of hand tools and machines. Martin would have used saws, chisels, and planes to shape the wood. He also would have used specialized tools, such as bending irons, to create the curved sides of the body. Martin’s guitars were prized for their tone and playability, and were a favorite of both amateur and professional musicians. Instruments like this one blur the lines between craft and design, folk tradition and high art.