Italian theorbo

The theorbo, also known as a chitarrone, is a stringed instrument in the lute family. They were developed in the late 16th century in Italy in response to a growing demand for bass range instruments as they did not interefere with the audibility of words sung in opera. A theorbo can have between 11 and 19 doubled strings, with this particular object carrying 12 strings. The instrument was made by Vendelinus Tieffenbrucker in Padua. The Tieffenbruckers are a multi-generational family of luthiers who were originally from Bavaria, and active in Venice and Padua in Italy from the beginning of the 16th century to around 1630.