Archlute
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The archlute is a European plucked string instrument developed around 1600 as a compromise between the very large theorbo, the size and re-entrant tuning of which made for difficulties in the performa
Archlute by David Tecchler, c. 1725
Painting of a lady playing an archlute, Jean Baptiste Vanmour
Lute
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A lute is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted.
Renaissance lute in 2013
Ancient Egyptian tomb painting depicting players with long-necked lutes, 18th Dynasty (c. 1350 BC).
Hellenistic banquet scene from 1st century A.D., Hadda, Gandhara. Lute player with short-necked lute, far right.
Lute in Pakistan, Gandhara, probably Butkara in Swat, Kushan Period (1st century-320)