Francisco Simplicio Classical Guitar (1930), made in Barcelona, French polish finish, Brazillian rosewood body, spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and, hard shell case.
Francisco Simplicio was the apprentice of and sole successor to Enrique Garcia, who himself had been an apprentice of Manuel Ramirez. Garcia brought the Torres-style Castilian guitar to Barcelona in the 1890's and soon established himself as a world-class artisan. Simplicio took over the shop after Garcia's death in 1922 and refined and personalized his instruments even further.
Simplicio guitars are prized not only for their beautiful tone but also for exquisite workmanship and sometimes extravagant ornamentation. The ornate purfling, rosette, and elaborate carved headstock seen on this deluxe model guitar are immediately recognizable features of the maker's work. An ornate Belle Epoch style label depicts the gold medal that his mentor Garcia won at the 1893 Columbian Exhibition (Chicago), along with Simplicio's own gold medal from the 1929 Barcelona World's Fair.
It is signed and hand inscribed with the shop address of Paseo San Juan 110 (the previous Garcia premises) and a date of 1930. Simplicio himself died in the early 1930's, leaving behind a legacy of some of the most exquisitely beautiful Spanish guitars of the 20th century.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 2 in. (51 mm.).
This guitar is in excellent playing condition; there have been a number of repaired cracks to the top and back and some added French polish. The sound is magnificent and this is both a historically important and eminently playable guitar. Very Good + Condition.
