Mandolin

John D'Angelico

ca. 1925 · Spruce, Brazilian rosewood, ivoroid, tortoise shell · Musical Instruments

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.

Artist

John D'Angelico

Date

ca. 1925

Medium

Spruce, Brazilian rosewood, ivoroid, tortoise shell

Culture

American

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Purchase, The Jonathan & Faye Kellerman Foundation Gift, 2007