We present an extremely rare and charming musical instrument from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries – CENTRA table string instrument in the shape of a heart, by Joseph Kellner. This is a unique example of luthier ingenuity and the search for new forms that took place in the Germanic cultural sphere at that time. The instrument comes from the workshop of Eduard Heidegger from Linz, Austria, known for the production of high-quality guitars in the second half of the 19th century, and its label attests to exhibition awards won, which further emphasizes the value of this object. This instrument is not only a witness of its era, but also a fascinating example of hybridization – it combines the features of a traditional table zither with the possibility of playing with a bow (which unfortunately has not survived to our times). The characteristic heart shape was initiated by the Bavarian musician and luthier Johann Petzmayer, who built the first concert zither of this form in Munich in 1823. The soundbox is made of maple, and the whole is complemented by iron and bone elements. The instrument is equipped with 29 metal chromatic keys placed on an arched fingerboard that crosses the heart-shaped body. Two teardrop-shaped openings reveal three chains of strings, and a flat, round pegbox with square key heads completes the construction. The bottom of the instrument is supported by three bone feet tipped with metal spikes.

Condition and special features:

• Chronology: early 20th century (c. 1900)
• Material: maple, iron, bone
• Dimensions: 29.5 cm x 2.65 cm x 46.8 cm (length, height, width)
• Origin: workshop of Eduard Heidegger, Linz, Austria
• Condition: good for its age – signs of use, later bow.

This collector's zither will be an excellent acquisition for lovers of unusual musical instruments, art historians, and all those who seek unique decorations with soul. It will work perfectly as an original interior decoration in vintage style or as a valuable exhibit in a private collection. We invite you to purchase – the item will be shipped safely packed, with the possibility of personal pickup. Description: Heart-shaped soundbox, crossed by an arched fingerboard with twenty-nine metal chromatic keys. Two teardrop-shaped holes in the soundbox reveal three chains: two perpendicular to the fingerboard and one parallel to it. The pegbox is flat and round, with metal keys with square heads placed perpendicularly. Four strings are held by small nails near the nut; on the opposite side they pass over the saddle bridge and fit into slots in the tailpiece. The bottom has three support feet (of bone?) tipped with metal spikes. Historical and critical information: Place of use: Germany. This is one of many forms in which, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the Germanic region, luthiers of various backgrounds experimented with constructing zithers, applying criteria other than traditional, aiming primarily at hybridization with the violin or at least making performance techniques typical of other instruments available to zithers, primarily involving the use of strings bowed. In this case, the maker adopted a construction closer to traditional table zithers, avoiding the use of a separate neck and body, and instead using an arched fingerboard and bridge to facilitate plucking individual strings. The characteristic heart shape is the result of the ingenuity of the famous Bavarian musician and luthier Johann Petzmayer, who built the first concert zither in Munich in 1823. The bow used (missing here) was slightly shorter than that of a violin.