Can anyone help me to identify this bowlback? #My brother bought it in BA where he lives. #For him it's a decoration but bought it to tease me as well. #I'm looking forward to my next visit to play it assuming it's playable.
Can anyone help me to identify this bowlback? #My brother bought it in BA where he lives. #For him it's a decoration but bought it to tease me as well. #I'm looking forward to my next visit to play it assuming it's playable.
Dan
Woops. I guess I don't know how to post a picture from my computer.
Dan
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Dan
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Dan
one more
Dan
Italian, Vinaccia-esque, around 1900. Looks to be in good shape (though one can't properly gauge the state of the soundboard and the neck joint from photos) and it seems to have sufficiently good workmanship to pull off the over-the-top level of decoration (one can argue about taste, which is maybe a bit lacking). I'm fairly sure that this was an expensive mandolin in its day, not just an overdecorated tourist piece churned out by the workshops in Catania. Engraved tuner plates like these, for example, are a good indicator of an expensive instrument. Buenos Aires was a wealthy place in those days, and had close links to Italy, so it's by no means unlikely for quality Italian bowlbacks to turn up there. There's a guy in Montevideo who keeps selling vintage Italians on Ebay.
As to the name of the maker, that's difficult without a label (do you know if there is one?). The headstock decoration appears to say "JD" or "DJ", but that may be the original owner rather than the maker. In any case, those initials don't ring a bell.
If it's in good shape, you should make an effort to convince your brother to get it strung up (ultralight strings only, of course) and playable.
Martin
Thanks Martin. I just sent him an email asking about a label and warning him not to string it himself!
Here's some more pics.
Dan
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Dan
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Dan
Possibly Defalco -- I am not sure why I think so. The border inlay does resemble some examples I have in my jpeg collection.
Then again, if that JD is indeed the correct initials -- I am not so sure that J is in the Italian alphabet -- it may very well be made in South America.
I will be curious to see more pics. Perhaps your brother can take a picture of the back of the neck to headstock joint. That, for instance, is a giveaway to id-ing ones from Napoli.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
Playing lately:
Brentrup A4C -- 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin -- 1904 Embergher Type 3 -- 1937 Gibson L-Century -- 1939 Gibson L-00 -- ca. 1890s Celebrated Benary Banjo -- 1985 Monteleone Grand Artist Mandola
Here's the label. Does this mean anything to anyone?
Dan
I guess it is Argentinian made around the end of the 19th century. Does this seem right.?
It sure is pretty. I hope it can be made to play well. As it turns out my brother bought it for me at a local auction house for 1100 pesos which is about $350 USD. I have to go to BA to pick it up. I may not get there right away. It came with a very "ratty" leather hard case which I have not seen.
Dan
Great photos, Dan. Do those appear to be lateral interior wood braces? Fascinating.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed, no matter. Try again, fail again, fail better.--Samuel Beckett
I like the piano too, what is it?
Label reads (in my rudimentary Spanish):
I assume that Ingenito is the Family name of the maker and that the last line seems to be the address in BA.Originally Posted by
On the ohter hand, there was a South American made mandolin some time ago that a luthier removed the lable to find a Vinaccia one underneath, so you never know.
In any case, it looks like a very nicely made instrument.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
Playing lately:
Brentrup A4C -- 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin -- 1904 Embergher Type 3 -- 1937 Gibson L-Century -- 1939 Gibson L-00 -- ca. 1890s Celebrated Benary Banjo -- 1985 Monteleone Grand Artist Mandola
Brne, Mitre is a street in Buenos Aires.
As for the piano, here is a quote from my brother in response to the query. #"The piano is a Grard from 1907. #It is French and Jazz guys loved them back in the 20's and 30's as they have a little more of a metallic sound than the average. #Beethhoven had one and if he knew the fact above was to be, maybe he would have been inspired to write "Roll Over Beethhoven" first.
Buenos Aires is a very good place to buy a Piano at least it was three years ago, don't know about today. #Typically in the Jazz era (very rich period for Argentina) The boat went to Europe with Grain and cows and came back with Pianos. #Friends of mine who visited bought an 8ft rosewood Steinway from the civil war era, #It was in excellent condition and in all the years had not been FrankenSteinwayed anywhere, 12k. #I paid 5k for mine 3 years ago at a small hippie dealer 40 minutes away in a bad neighborhood. #That's the best I can do that Google might not give you faster."
Dan
Interesting streeet name, Dan. is there a story there? I searched for Brne and came up with Czech sites. I knwo there is a town over there called Brno.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
Playing lately:
Brentrup A4C -- 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin -- 1904 Embergher Type 3 -- 1937 Gibson L-Century -- 1939 Gibson L-00 -- ca. 1890s Celebrated Benary Banjo -- 1985 Monteleone Grand Artist Mandola
The actual street name is Bartholome Mitre. I don't understand though why there is a "n" in Brne instead of an "M" as I have to assume that Brne is short for Bartholome. Perhaps it is an antiquated bit of writing style. Anyway it's in the old part of the city so I am told by mi hermano.
Dan
My reading of the label —smudge across the middle— IS "B", "m", and final "e", with accent; NO "r" plus "n". In other words, I believe that the "m" is slashed across by the smudge. And, of course, the accent is proper to the Spanish for Bartholomew, Bartolomé.
It is not man who lives, but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
And, here, the story (in short) of the illustrious Argentine patriot and once president. He surely deserved to have a street or two named after him.
It is not man who lives, but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
Victor,
Good read. Now it makes sense.
Dan
No hay de que, Sr. Cohen.
It is not man who lives, but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
Veector,
No comrendo "No hay de que, Sr. Cohen".
Dan
Thanks, Dan and Victor, for clearing that up. Makes perfect sense.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
Playing lately:
Brentrup A4C -- 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin -- 1904 Embergher Type 3 -- 1937 Gibson L-Century -- 1939 Gibson L-00 -- ca. 1890s Celebrated Benary Banjo -- 1985 Monteleone Grand Artist Mandola
Good morning, Dan. Oh, just a typical Latin American, gracious expression of self-deprecation, roughly equivalent to "you are welcome", or, more precisely, "it was nothing". In plain English, I'm glad to have helped, albeit in a small way.
Cheers,
Victor
It is not man who lives, but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
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