Item 23
Price: $50,000
Appraised Value 2016: $50,000
Appraised Value 2021: $60,000
The soundboard is made from matched halves of straight- and evenly grained old spruce, with spacing of 20 per inch across the soundboard, and sharp and distinct grain lines. The bridge is rosewood with rounded ends and abalone oval inserts. The top of the tie-block is faced with ivory. Bass and treble golpeadors are made of white plastic. The dominant element of the rosette is a double row of evenly spaced small squares, natural in color, set in a black background band.
Made from cypress, the three-piece back has black inlaid strips at the seams reinforced with strips of lengthwise-grained mahogany. The soundboard has single purfling and both soundboard and back have walnut edging. Neck and head are Spanish cedar, and the head has a hole drilled in it to receive a hanging thong or decorative ribbon. The head is fitted with engraved nickel-plated tuning machines, probably original, and the rosewood fingerboard has narrow frets and low playing action contributing to a sensitive and raspy character. Harmonic bars and crossbars have tapered ends and rest on side braces. Top lining is of separate blocks and the back lining is of solid wood.
Domingo Esteso (1882-1937) apprenticed with the great Manuel Ramírez and is considered an essential maker and one of the most esteemed of flamenco guitar makers. This guitar is in excellent original condition with its original French polish of shellac.
Listen to this Guitar
Quality headphones or external speakers are highly recommended for auditioning on this high quality audio track.