Mandolin

ca. 1925

Not on view

Neapolitan bowlback mandolin made by John D'Angelico. The instrument has a wide-grained spruce top with an inlaid tortoiseshell pickguard decorated with a large flower in the center and wreath-type scrolls to each side. The oval soundhole is bound with ivoroid and black mastic. In addition, there is another band of decorative ivoroid inlay and black mastic slightly recessed from the soundhole. The ebony fingerboard extends over the soundhole and has eighteen full frets and two abbreviated frets. Mother-of-pearl dots mark fret positions. The back is made of twenty-three Brazilian rosewood ribs with maple separators. The disposition includes eight strings in the typical Neapolitan arrangements of two strings per course tuned to the same notes as a violin: E, A, D, G. Ivoroid tipped machine tuners. Ivoroid pedestal on headstock.

Artwork Details

Title: Mandolin
Maker: John D'Angelico (American, New York 1905–1964 New York)
Date: ca. 1925
Geography: New York, New York, United States
Culture: American
Medium: Spruce, Brazilian rosewood, ivoroid, tortoise shell
Dimensions: 24 1/2 × 8 1/4 × 6 in. (62.2 × 21 × 15.2 cm)
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
Credit Line: Purchase, The Jonathan & Faye Kellerman Foundation Gift, 2007
Object Number: 2007.456
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

By John D'Angelico

From the same time and place

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Archtop Guitar, John D'Angelico American, Spruce, maple, ebony, steel, celluloid, mother-of-pearl, American — Archtop Guitar
John D'Angelico
1932

Ūd, Toufighe Jahromi American, Wood, metal and nylon strings, celluloid, American — Ūd
Toufighe Jahromi
ca. 1928

Mandolin, Angelo Mannello American, born Italy, Spruce, maple, tortoiseshell, ivory, mother-of-pearl, metal, American — Mandolin
Angelo Mannello
1900

Mandolin, John Monteleone American, Bavarian spruce, red maple, Italian-American — Mandolin
John Monteleone
1996

Archtop Mandolin, James D'Aquisto American, Spruce, maple, ebony, celluloid, mother-of-pearl, American — Archtop Mandolin
James D'Aquisto
1971

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