I don't think it's a citera (Hungarian). Citeras always have a horse motif, especially old one's like this. I think it's Austrian. There are plenty of Austrian Alpine zithers (as opposed to concert) which have similar stepped drones.
Ever seen an epinette like this?
Luigi:
It could also be a Hungarian zither. They don't usually have a bottom, though.
Wow! Bingo! Thanks! I'm finding many references to the Hungarian zither, a direct family resemblance to the instrument I've been restoring.
Much obliged, Luigi
A client recently brought an antique musical instrument in terrible shape, asking me to refurbish it. I think it's a variant of the epinette des vosges. I saw one with some of its features long ago on the internet, but did not capture it and cannot find it again. It is very heavily built, with top, bottom and sides about 3/8" thick. The top and back have major cracks, probably from wood drying (cannot be drawn together).
Cannot find anything like it in L. Allen Smith's "A Catalog of Pre-Revival Dulcimers."
The VSLs are:
- Fretted course (5 strings): 30.625"
- Sympathetic courses:
- a (2 strings): 30.5"
- b (1 string): 30.857"
- c (2 strings): 22.5"
- d (2 strings): 16.875"
- e (2 strings): 11.0"
I've completed refurbishing (somewhere between curating, re-fitting and some repairs and hardware replacement) and looking for an insurance value for shipping purposes.
