This miniature lute, which dates from either the sixteenth or seventeenth century, is very similar to a mandolin but has a shorter fretboard and neck, making it  appear more compact, and has twelve strings instead of eight. This very small lute, approximately 8 inches long, is made predominantly of light wood, though the fretboard, head, bridge and a circle around the sound hole all are in part, dark wood. Inlaid mother-of-pearl decorates the front, including the lateral portions of the scalloped head as well as its center leaf design; the borders and leaf designs on the fretboard; and four areas of leaf-like designs on the body, one near the neck, another near the bottom, a rectangular piece with leaves and a central flower, and the s-shaped leaves surrounding the sound hole. On the back of the neck, mother-of-pearl strips of inlay alternate with dark wood.The front of the body is flat while the bottom is bowl-shaped, grooved, and has a carved wood vine and leaves surrounding the outside edges.