Mirecourt guitar around 1840 (Nicolas Morlot?)

This typical french Mirecourt guitar isn't labeled 

but thoughts are that it could be a Nicolas Morlot,

a luthier who also built good violins. Well known is 

the Chevron type inlay. The bridge is a later addition 

to my believe as the model is not similar to other 

bridges on instruments of that time. 

This picture shows us the wood that has been used for the 

back: Apparently Cuban mahogany. Mahogany is also widely 

used for fine furniture: However, the rarity of Cuban mahogany 

and over harvesting of Honduras and Brazilian mahogany has 

diminished their use. This typical wood is prone to cracking 

however. This instrument is in good though not original 

condition. It has a sweet and even voice over the different 

strings. The inside of the soundbox has been veneered with

spruce as was quite common at that time.

A nice picture of the head that also differs a

bit of what was conventional, though the "Eight"

model was well known. Veneered with ebony.

Here you can take a close look at the wood 

used for the sides of this nice instrument.

ANONYMOUS MIRECOURT GUITAR (1825).

This instrument hasn't got a lot of decorations.
The soundboard apparently hasn't even been quarter sawn
being a sign of some cheapiness. After restoration this
guitar appears to be a very well balanced sounding
instrument with a nice and sweet voice.

This picture clearly shows the ivory frets while ebony has been
used for the highest frets. Note that fingerboard and
soundboard are in one line as was done up untill 1835.

These heels are quite common on french made guitars
of that period. This particular instrument has a wooden
binding on the back.

The back of this Mirecourt guitar has been veneered 

with a kind of mahogany on spruce. The neck has been 

veneered with ebony. Violinlike pegs are used for tuners.