MEDIEVAL LUTHERIE: back-carving ITALIAN CETRA

A possible method in medieval stringed instruments making.

The reconstruction of a Cetra  from XII century sculpture by Benedetto Antelami in Parma Baptistery,

1. Carving the instrument “back to front” in one piece of Fir
2. Refining carefully the soundboard inside and outside, following a curved profile
3. Gluing a flat back (Maple).

  Copying a traditionally carved medieval Cetra outline

Inside view of soundboard

Carving the soundboard outside.

An elegant back added (Maple)

Diapason cm. 34,5

total weight gr.790

CONCLUSION

In my experience this technique didn't give the expected results. The sound of front-carved plucked instruments is stronger and brighter than back-carved ones.

Better results have been obtained in bowed instruments making,

please see:  http://www.liuteriaseverini.it/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=43:back-carving-front-carving-comparing-two-techniques&Itemid=1014