The best I can tell, this guitar was made in Europe, most likely between 1900 and 1910. What I know for sure is that it top quality Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, a spruce top and one of the coolest inlaid rosettes I've ever seen.
This guitar has seen some miles in its 120 (or so) years but it is remarkably solid for its age. Brazilian Rosewood on a guitar this old is often riddled with cracks but this one just had a few little cracks that were easily repaired. The top has obviously seen a lot of miles but it only needed a couple of small repairs.
Take a look at the photos of the back and sides! That is some of the nicest, straight grain Brazilian Rosewood that you'll ever find. You can't buy wood like this at any price these days. It was an honor to work with it and bring it back to a functioning musical life!
The neck of this guitar was broken (at the heel) when it was shipped to me. I gave it a new neck block, a modern neck with a truss rod and new tuners. I removed the back and re-glued the loose braces. I removed the top braces and replaced them with a scalloped X-brace pattern so it could better stand the tension of steel strings. I'll include the original neck with purchase. It is possible to re-construct the heel and re-install that old neck if you ever want to get the instrument back to its original state. Please note that I used a significant shim when fitting the new neck to the body. It's visible in the last photo.
The tone of this guitar fantastic. It is a small instrument but it's got that magic combination of Brazilian Rosewood and spruce that people obsess over. There's still the mid-range focus of a small guitar but there's a warmth that just emanates from these precious tone woods! The action is nice with lots of room to adjust to your taste.
This is a very old guitar. I've fixed it up the best I can and feel that it is in very good playing condition. I expect it to last another 120 years if it's cared for. That said, it's a funky old, handmade guitar. There are plenty of imperfections from the original maker and the repairs I and other luthiers have made along the way. Price includes shipping in the continental United States. Sorry, but I can't ship this internationally.