Neapolitan mandolin
Date1900-1925 ca.
Place MadeNew York, New York, United States, North America
Serial No.none
SignednoneDescriptionSoundboard: two-piece spruce
Bowl: 18 mahogany staves, 16 inner ribs narrower, divided by holly stringing
Clasp: walnut; pointed tip; trim comprised of two-ply walnut/holly stripe
Head: maple
Neck: maple; integral with head
Binding: ivoroid; trim comprised of strip of alternating maple/green-stained maple rhombi, bound on either side by three-ply mahogany/maple/mahogany stripes
Fingerboard: rosewood or brown-stained maple bound in ivoroid; 17 nickel-silver frets;
mother-of-pearl single dots inlaid behind 5th, 7th, and 10th frets
Nut: rosewod
Bridge: ebony
Tuners: two sets of worm-gear machine tuners with brass plates, brass rollers, and black celluloid heads
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass
Rosette: elliptical; trim identical to that found around soundboard edge
Pick guard: imitation tortoiseshell celluloid with decorative vines inlaid in ivoroid
Lacquer: slightly yellowed
Bowl lining: inside of bowl painted black
Blocks: neck block painted black; brown hardwood endblock
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: 617 mm (24-9/32”)
Top length: 312 mm (12-9/32”)
Maximum body width: 192 mm (7-9/16”)
Maximum bowl height: 141 mm (5-9/16”)
Head length: 151.5 mm (5-31/32”)
Head width, top: 62.2 mm (2-7/16”)
Head width, bottom: 52.4 mm (2-1/16”)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 145 mm (5-23/32”)
Neck width, nut: 28.6 mm (1-1/8”)
Neck width, heel: 37.8 mm (1-1/2”)
Soundhole height: 41 mm (1-5/8”)
Soundhole width: 62.2 mm (2-7/16”)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 328 mm (12-29/32”)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number03882
On View
Not on view
1900-1925 ca.
