Ozelli mandolins

[spats]

Hello to all in the café!

I have a friend who asked me if I knew anything about Ozelli mandolins. She has one which is around 100 yrs old, with case and apparently in terrific condition. (I haven't seen it yet)
I can't find any info on the maker and would appreciate anything at all about the marque.
Was this a make for hanging on walls or can it be taken seriously?
I'll try to provide photos if anybody is at all interested.
Thanks in advance

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Jim Garber]

Is that a bowlback? Yes, please post photos. That maker does not sound familiar to me.

Was this bought on French eBay around September 7 of this year?

[spats]

Hello Jim,
Thanks for getting back to me.
I've just seen the instrument and it is a bowlback. Complete with wooden, shaped box which looks like it could be quite valuable itself!
There is mother of pearl inlay round the sound hole and flowers on the scratch plate - but nothing too ornate. It appears to be solid and the interior is lined with some sort of fabric. The name Ozelli appears on the label but there is no other info at all. No serial number.
The neck is slightly twisted[U]but nevertheless it looks like a player.
This mandolin has been in my friend's family for over 100 yrs and wasn't bought on ebay!
I'll put some strings on it and see how it sounds and I'll also get some photos to send.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Greenmando]

I'll put some strings on it and see how it sounds and I'll also get some photos to send.
#http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Use only very light strings. Pictures!

[jk245]

This appears to have the inlay like you say. The site owner is also interested in the maker

http://www.shameacademy.de/myguitars.html
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[jk245]

There is another one with same inlay for sale at

http://www.chez.com/guitaresbeuzon/index.htm

for 600 euros.
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[spats]

Thanks for your photos. I've been trying to send some as well but with no success. It seems that 1.26mb is too much!
Can anybody give me any advice on how to send. (I'm using a Fuji FinePix Z10 - if that's relevant)
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[spats]

Right, here goes! I'm sorry to have kept you waiting and apologies for my last post - I'd never seen the miscellaneous stuff before! It's all explained! I feel a real idiot.

anyway :

[spats]

here's another

[spats]

and another one

[spats]

The above pictures aren't all that great. If you would like to see better quality & from different angles, just let me know.
Any info about Ozelli will be most welcome!
Thanks for your patience!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

spats

[Celtic-Grass]

well, i'm no expert by any means but this doesn't (at least by the pictures) look all that old to me. Not 100 years certainly. but again I'm no expert. And, lets face it, 100 years ain't what it used to be http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
It does look nice tho and looks like it's been lovingly cared for. If it plays it may be worth putting some work into the twisted neck.
Thanks for the photos!

[spats]

Here's three more that might help. As for the age, my friend is convinced it is around 1900 at the latest!!

[spats]

this one shows up a slight twist in the neck

[spats]

simple tail piece

[Jim Garber]

The "golden era" of bowlbacks was from 1890-1920 or so, so that does fit into the 100 year old category.

I have no info on that particular maker. What does the label say?

I found an ebay France listing from September that describes is as being made in Naples. The description said it was 19th century, of rosewood of very good quality and inlaid with tortoiseshell and silver. Sounds like a fancy version by this maker. It sold for €449.

[spats]

Thanks for your post Jim.
Unfortunately only the name Ozelli appears on the label. I'm surprised that there is no other info.
I know nothing at all about bowl backs, but it appears to be a well made, good quality instrument. It's quite heavy. (Even the case seems to be carved out of a tree trunk!)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Jim Garber]

A bulletin in on this maker!!! Thanks to a link provided by Michael Reichenbach to a site with lots of French catalogues:

It looks like Ozelli mandolins were made and sold by Laberte-Humbert, luthiers in Mirecourt, France. These catalogue pages were from 1912-1913.

Your friend's mandolin might be a model 3104.

http://www.luthiers-mirecourt.com/laberte1912_151.jpg
http://www.luthiers-mirecourt.com/laberte1912_152.jpg

[Jim Garber]

Here are the other 2 pages from the Ozelli section.

http://www.luthiers-mirecourt.com/laberte1912_153.jpg
http://www.luthiers-mirecourt.com/laberte1912_154.jpg

[Plamen Ivanov]

They've made a lefty model as well (3112) :-) Although i think it's rather a print mistake.

[mandoisland]

Hello Plami, you are right, I have also seen those "lefty" mandolins in this catalog, like you I think those are just printed in the wrong way.

Rolland Terrier was very kind to scan in this catalog after I had told him that I like this stuff very much and that I am very interested in the mandolin parts.

[spats]

Well Jim, thank you for leading me to the source of all the information I'll ever need concerning these Mandolins.
Ozelli was a good quality product made by the Laberte-Humbert brothers who worked in the Vosges region in Eastern France. They made higher quality instruments but to find an Ozelli in fine condition is still a nice find!
Thanks again for all your help!
Spats http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif