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12-string Neapolitan mandolin

Maker Louis Viohl & Sons

Maker Empire State (trade name of Louis Viohl & Sons)

Date1902-1925 ca.

Place MadeNew York, New York, United States, North America

ModelEmpire State

Serial No.none

SignedPrinted onto circular ivoroid inlay on peghead in black ink [most printing faded or rubbed off]: EM STATE / WARRANTEDDescriptionSoundboard: two-piece spruce: fine grain
Bowl: 15 rosewood staves, 13 inner ribs narrower, divided by maple stringing
Clasp: rosewood
Head: mahogany
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Binding: rosewood; trim comprised of two-ply light maple/dark-stained maple inlay stripe
Fingerboard: [beveled] rosewood; 17 nickel-silver bar frets [portion of 4th fret missing]; scalloped between fretsdecorative floral mother-of-pearl inlays behind 5th and 10th frets; mother-of-pearl
slotted diamond inlaid behind 7th fret; mother-of-pearl diamond inlaid behind 12th
fret
Nut: missing
Bridge: missing
Tuners: two sets of worm-gear machine tuners with brass plates, steel rollers, and ivoroid heads; plates stamped with decorative fleur-de-lis/spade/clover pattern
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass
Rosette: elliptical; trim comprised of brown-stained hardwood stripe bound on either side by four-ply alternating maple/brown-stained hardwood stripes
Pick guard: dark rosewood with decorative floral maple inlay
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with craquelure
Bowl lining: three strips of brown-painted mesh cloth
Blocks: mahogany neck block, integral with neck; end block is painted brown
Top braces: spruce brace with tapered ends above soundhole; spruce brace with tapered ends below soundhole and at widest point of soundboard
Linings: kerfed spruce
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 646 mm (25-7/16”)
Top length: 315 mm (12-13/32”)
Maximum body width: 200 mm (7-7/8”)
Maximum bowl height: 166 mm (6-17/32”)
Head length: 184 mm (7-1/4”)
Head width, top: 64.6 mm (2-17/32”)
Head width, bottom: 52.3 mm (2-1/16”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 146.5 mm (5-25/32”)
Neck width, nut: 32 mm (1-1/4”)
Neck width, heel: 40 mm (1-9/16”)
Soundhole height: 45 mm (1-25/32”)
Soundhole width: 71.2 mm (2-13/16”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 328 mm (12-29/32”) [approx. – estimated from discoloration on soundboard indicating earlier position of bridge]
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.

Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979

Object number03880

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