Surviving instrument by Joachim Tielke, made in Germany, approximately 1700.
The Cithrinchen or Bell cittern was a distinctively shaped instrument of the renaissance and baroque periods. It was usually strung with doubled courses of thin, light tension brass or steel strings. It usually had 3 soundholes (with decorative roses) and 5 (or sometimes 6 or more) courses (pairs) of strings.
Details: 5 course cithrinchen. Made by: Instrumentenbau Kilian, Germany.
Details: 5 course cithrinchen. Made by: Donald Gill, Britain.
Details: 6 course cithrinchen with machine heads. Made by: Paul Hathaway, Britain.