Neapolitan mandolin
Date1900-1925 ca.
Place MadeNew York, New York, United States, North America
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsStamped on tailpiece: PAT. APPLD. FOR
DescriptionSoundboard: twopiece spruce: finewide grain
Bowl: 13 rosewood staves, 11 inner ribs narrower, divided by maple or holly stringing
Clasp: rosewood; festooned lower end
Head: mahogany or Spanish cedar; veneered with rosewood on front face
Neck: mahogany or Spanish cedar; integral with head
Binding: ivoryplastic; trim comprised of strip of alternating red and greenstained hardwood, ebony, rosewood, and maple rhombi, surrounded on either side by fourply greenstained hardwood/redstained hardwood/maple/rosewood stripes
Fingerboard: rosewood or brownstained maple; 17 nickelsilver Tfrets [3rd fret missing]; motherofpearl singledots inlaid behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets
Nut: missing
Bridge: missing
Tuners: two sets of wormgear machine tuners with nickelplated brass plates, nickel-plated brass rollers, and black celluloid heads
Tailpiece: nickelplated brass; seashellshaped
Rosette: elliptical; ivoryplastic binding; trim the same as that found around soundboard edges
Pick guard: imitation tortoiseshell celluloid with decorative vines inlaid in ivoroid
Lacquer: slightly yellowed with craquelure
Bowl lining: brown mesh cloth over lower half; inside of entire bowl painted dark brown
Blocks: Spanish cedar or mahogany neck block, integral with neck; end block is painted dark brown
Top braces: spruce brace with tapered ends above soundhole; two cedar braces with tapered ends below soundhole
Linings: kerfed spruce
DimensionsTotal mandolin length: 593 mm (2311/32”)
Top length: 295 mm (115/8”)
Maximum body width: 201 mm (729/32”)
Maximum bowl height: 139 mm (515/32”)
Head length: 148.5 mm (527/32”)
Head width, top: 64.7 mm (29/16”)
Head width, bottom: 48.5 mm (129/32”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 143.4 mm (521/32”)
Neck width, nut: 27.7 mm (13/32”)
Neck width, heel: 37.8 mm (11/2”)
Soundhole height: 48.5 mm (129/32”)
Soundhole width: 73.5 mm (27/8”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 333 mm (131/8”) [approx. – estimated from line on soundboard indicating previous position of missing bridge]
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number03879
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