Mandola

Giuseppe Presbler

1797 · Rosewood, spruce, walnut, bone, mother-of-pearl · Musical Instruments

This rare bass mandola was built by Giuseppe Presbler, son of the mandolin maker Francesco Presbler (Milan, 1730-1773). The Presbler’s are known for the use of decoration on their instruments that is both luxurious and well executed and at the same time restrained. The mandola bassa Milanese, or gallichone as it is sometimes called, is tuned an octave lower than the mandolin. Technical description: Rosewood arched back of 19 ribs separated by bone striping; flat spruce top edged with bone; parchment and veneer rosette ringed with mother-of-pearl ornaments in black mastic; walnut neck; mother-of-pearl fingerboard with inlaid black-white-black striping and bone edging; formerly probably seven tied frets; seven bone frets (and mark of an 8th) on table; upright S-curved, pierced pegbox terminating in square finial of mother-of-pearl edged with bone; bone nut (replacement); seven pairs (courses) of strings.

Artist

Giuseppe Presbler

Date

1797

Medium

Rosewood, spruce, walnut, bone, mother-of-pearl

Culture

Italian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Willcox, in memory of Jane Byrd Radcliffe Whitehead, 1989