Dital harp

Description

Plucked stringed instrument in the shape of a combined lute-harp, with vaulted-back, round soundbox and harp-like column and neck. Raised fingerboard on neck with ivory/bone frets. Nineteen gut strings, of which thirteen are stopped by spring-loaded brass push studs. Square-shaped brass tuning pins. Slanted bridge with ivory/bone saddle and ebony pins. Oval-shaped, carved pedestal base. This hybrid instrument was one of Edward Light's early 19th century developments, combining elements of the then highly popular harp and English guitar (guittar), and intended as a new "improved" parlor instrument. By "dital" is meant a finger?key (in this case the studs) that would raise the pitch of a string by a semitone. This instrument is part of the Albert C. Spencer collection.