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Neapolitan mandolin
Maker: attributed to Vega Company
Distributor: Peter Benson
Date: 1900-1925 ca.
Place Made:Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Place Distributed:Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, North America
Serial No: none
SignedOval label inside instrument [left side partially covered with tape]: BENSON / [MANUFACT]URER & IMPORTER / BENSON / [MAKER OF MU]SICAL INSTRUMENTS. / [MINNEAPOL]IS, MINN. U.S.A.
MarkingsEngraved into metal tuner cover, in cursive text: Eschol Sundstrom
DescriptionSoundboard: two-piece spruce: fine grain
Bowl: 21 rosewood staves, 19 inner ribs narrower, divided by holly stringing
Clasp: rosewood
Head: mahogany or Spanish cedar; veneered with rosewood on front face; top of peghead has broken off [once formed a round hole at top of peghead]
Neck: mahogany or Spanish cedar; integral with head
Binding: ivoroid; trim comprised of nine-ply alternating ebony/maple stripes
Fingerboard: black-stained hardwood; 18 nickel-plated brass bar frets under G course, 19 under D course, and 21 under A and E courses; imitation mother-of-pearl celluloid single-dots inlaid behind 3rd and 15th frets; pointed ovals with decorative black-ink-filled engravings behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony with bone saddle on side facing fingerboard
Tuners: two sets of worm-gear machine tuners with nickel-plated brass cover, nickel-plated brass rollers, and ivoroid heads; two decorative lines engraved around outer edges of cover
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass
Rosette: elliptical; bound in ivoroid; trim comprised of abalone strip surrounded on either side by four-ply alternating ivoroid/ebony stripes
Pick guard: imitation tortoiseshell celluloid with decorative flowering vine mother-of-pearl inlay
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with craquelureBowl lining: light-brown paper, lacquered
Blocks: neck block covered with paper lining; end block either covered with paper lining or not present
Top braces: spruce brace with tapered ends above soundhole; spruce brace with tapered ends below soundhole and at widest point of soundboard
Linings: kerfedSpanish cedar or mahogany
Bowl: 21 rosewood staves, 19 inner ribs narrower, divided by holly stringing
Clasp: rosewood
Head: mahogany or Spanish cedar; veneered with rosewood on front face; top of peghead has broken off [once formed a round hole at top of peghead]
Neck: mahogany or Spanish cedar; integral with head
Binding: ivoroid; trim comprised of nine-ply alternating ebony/maple stripes
Fingerboard: black-stained hardwood; 18 nickel-plated brass bar frets under G course, 19 under D course, and 21 under A and E courses; imitation mother-of-pearl celluloid single-dots inlaid behind 3rd and 15th frets; pointed ovals with decorative black-ink-filled engravings behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony with bone saddle on side facing fingerboard
Tuners: two sets of worm-gear machine tuners with nickel-plated brass cover, nickel-plated brass rollers, and ivoroid heads; two decorative lines engraved around outer edges of cover
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass
Rosette: elliptical; bound in ivoroid; trim comprised of abalone strip surrounded on either side by four-ply alternating ivoroid/ebony stripes
Pick guard: imitation tortoiseshell celluloid with decorative flowering vine mother-of-pearl inlay
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with craquelureBowl lining: light-brown paper, lacquered
Blocks: neck block covered with paper lining; end block either covered with paper lining or not present
Top braces: spruce brace with tapered ends above soundhole; spruce brace with tapered ends below soundhole and at widest point of soundboard
Linings: kerfedSpanish cedar or mahogany
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 598 mm (23-17/32”)
Top length: 301 mm (11-27/32”)
Maximum body width: 202 mm (7-15/16”)
Maximum bowl height: 150 mm (5-29/32”)
Head length: 145.4 mm (5-23/32”)
Head width, top: 65.3 mm (2-9/16”)
Head width, bottom: 51.1 mm (2”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 147 mm (5-25/32”)
Neck width, nut: 28.2 mm (1-1/8”)
Neck width, heel: 38.1 mm (1-1/2”)
Soundhole height: 47 mm (1-27/32”)
Soundhole width: 74.3 mm (2-15/16”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 328.5 mm (12-15/16”)
Top length: 301 mm (11-27/32”)
Maximum body width: 202 mm (7-15/16”)
Maximum bowl height: 150 mm (5-29/32”)
Head length: 145.4 mm (5-23/32”)
Head width, top: 65.3 mm (2-9/16”)
Head width, bottom: 51.1 mm (2”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 147 mm (5-25/32”)
Neck width, nut: 28.2 mm (1-1/8”)
Neck width, heel: 38.1 mm (1-1/2”)
Soundhole height: 47 mm (1-27/32”)
Soundhole width: 74.3 mm (2-15/16”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 328.5 mm (12-15/16”)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Terms
Credit Line: Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Not on view
Object number: 03875