1920s Stromberg Voisonet Decalcomania Parlor

Nowadays, the term "Parlor Guitar" is too often misused as a blanket term for any small-body guitar. True parlor guitars were designed for and used to play parlor music. It was an era when guitars played a different role in music, and these 12-fret neck, slotted headstock axes supplied rich sound for fancy sitting rooms. Many are ladder-braced, and most have a small body that sounds great in smaller settings (e.g. a parlor room, whereas bigger bodies were designed for the "Auditorium").  This highly-ornate parlor guitar was made by Stromberg-Voisonet in Chicago in the late '20s. It is an excellent example of a true parlor guitar: 12-fret design, slotted headstock, only 13-1/4" across on the lower bout, and ladder braced. The top is also adorned by authentic late-'20s decalcomania. After all, these guitars were intended to be played in the fancy front room of someone's house, so it had to fit in with the gaudy decor. The design on this one is an intricate encapsulation of '20s opulence