Mandolino Milanese
Alternate name(s)
- Milanese mandolin
Repaired by
Giovanni Giannini
Date1700-1800 ca. and 1901
Place MadeItaly, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label: Francesco Plesberl fecit in Milano anno ala insegna del solo 1680Written in pencil on underside of top: Giovanni Giannini / Giovanni Giannini / 1901
DescriptionThis mandolin combines an eigtheenth-century ivory bowl with an early twentieth century top. While characteristic of the small, lute-like mandolins used in northern Italy in the eighteenth century, its exact provenance is unknown.
Stringing: five double courses
Soundboard: one-piece quarter-cut spruce: narrow grain; later
Bowl: 14 ivory staves, divided by black-stained pearwood strips; outer two strips covered in tortoiseshell with silver leaf backing
Clasp: three-piece ivory divided by ebony strips
Head: hardwood veneered with ebony and decoratively engraved bone; turned bone pin ornaments set into sides; possibly later
Neck: spruce veneered with strips of bone and black-stained pearwood; possibly later
Binding: ebony; later
Fingerboard: bone engraved with boar-hunting scene filled with black ink with bone and ebony border; later
Nut: bone
Bridge: black-painted maple tie bridge; later
Tuners: 10 ebony friction pegs with bone pins; later, by Andrew Dipper, 1997
Rose: pearwood veneer and parchment; later, by Andrew Dipper, 1997
Rosette: mother-of-pearl inlay set in black mastic, surrounded on each side by bone and black-stained pear purfling
Lacquer: none
Bowl lining: printed paper linings at joints between ribs; added by Andrew Dipper, 1997
DimensionsTotal mandolino milanese length: 539 mm
Top length: 265 mm
Maximum body width: 144 mm
Maximum bowl height: 76 mm
Head length: 139 mm
Head width, top: 74 mm
Head width, bottom: 65 mm
Neck length (nut to ribs): 141 mm
Neck width, nut: 43 mm
Neck width, heel: 54 mm
Soundhole diameter: 54 mm
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 329 mm
ProvenanceLaurence Witten acquired from the collection of Lord Astor removed from the music room at Hever Castle; acquired at the sale, Christie’s, 12 Nov. 1963, lot 10.
Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Published ReferencesAndré P. Larson. Beethoven & Berlioz, Paris & Vienna: Musical Treasures from the Age of Revolution & Romance 1789-1848. With essay by John Koster. Exhibition catalog, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 12-November 2, 2003. Vermillion: National Music Museum 2003. Page 69.
Credit LineWitten-Rawlins Collection, 1984
Object number03435
On View
Not on view
