Rose
Openwork, round sound hole in the soundboard of lutes.
What it means
The rose is the round sound hole, often carved in delicate openwork tracery, in the soundboard of the lute, and occasionally of other historical plucked instruments. It is usually positioned centrally in the upper part of the top.
Musical use
Besides its acoustic function as a sound opening, the rose also served as an elaborately worked ornament and a hallmark of an instrument maker's workshop. The rose is distinct from the open, usually oval sound hole of modern guitars: this is unadorned and generally not carved in openwork, whereas the lute's rose shows a delicate, filigree lattice cut directly from the wood or parchment of the top itself.
Performance practice
Handle the rose of a historical lute with particular care, since its delicate, often centuries-old carving or parchment is sensitive to pressure and humidity.