Stephen Gottlieb

Stephen Gottlieb is a lutemaker, building all types of renaissance and baroque instruments from highly decorated to classically simple.

Stephen trained as an architect, but taught himself lutemaking, spending one whole summer travelling around Europe studying and measuring old lutes in different museums. His first instrument was a guitar, which he also played. Now he takes orders from players all over the world – from Switzerland, Italy, the US, Australia and Japan.

Stephen’s lutes, theorboes and chittarone are lightly constructed and are made typically with yew or maple backs and well-seasoned spruce soundboards. Decoration is in costly materials such as ebony, snakewood, boxwood, bone and gold leaf.  His workshop, in a mews in East Finchley, is crowded with fine woods, moulds, jars of natural pigment, resins, and varnish samples.

Stephen likes making things and is interested in all the techniques and skills of craftsmanship. He also makes other fine pieces in wood and mixed media.