Welsh Crwth, Russian Balaláíka. Hipkins historic instruments lithograph c1888

by Hipkins, Alfred James

Hipkins Musical Instruments antique print. Ancient stringed Crwth (chrotta), the early form of Celtic Harp, hollowed out from a single piece of wood, with sound board glued on (Chrotta Brittanna of AD617?); together with a Balalaika,"the Russian peasant's guitar". This example has particularly decorative ornament, which is not usual. The curved forms of lutes and guitars are an artistic development from this primitive instrument's triangular shape.

Original colour-printed lithograph by William Gibb for the first edition of “Musical Instruments - Historic, Rare and Unique” by Alfred James Hipkins (1826-1903), published in Edinburgh, circa 1888 by Adam and Charles Black. William Gibb's lithographs for the first edition of A.J. Hipkins historic instruments are considered to be the finest illustrations of musical instruments ever done.

First edition lithograph, but decommissioned library edition. Half-framed between antique white conservation ragmat which conceals the library stamp. Page size: 405 x 295mm (approximately 16 x 11.5 inches). Lithograph size: 320 x 210mm (approx. 11.5 x 8.25 inches).