Bowlbacks of Note

[mandoisland]

Might be intersting for this thread:

This is a TV show about antique stuff and they checked a mandolin built by Ermelinda Silvestry. The expert guessed that it has a value of about 650.- €

This mandolin looks very nice and is beautifully decorated.

http://www.br.de/fernsehen/bayerisch...doline100.html

I found a very similar mandolin signed by Mario Casella here:

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/coll...se/?irn=252694

[brunello97]

Thanks, Michael. I love those double bands of inlay! Hard to imagine, though, that the decoration of the mandolin could be overshadow by that of the room Quite a setting for the show.

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Sort of a German Antigues Roadshow? The translation of the page (via Google) says:

The beautiful floral inlays of glistening pearl, but also the muse Calliope shown below the rosette with a lyre in his hand, characterize this instrument in particular. The in-mounted instrument manufacturers list reveals "Fabrica di Strumenti Accorda" - the manufacturer of the stringed instrument - "Ermelinda Silvestri, Roma." The mandolin has been well repaired and the fact that there are instruments with so many ornaments rarely has a positive effect on the value.

Interesting that most of the labels of Ermelinda Silvestri say Catania. I wonder if that was earlier or later. Also the maker (a woman?) seemed to make mandolins in the Neapolitan style so I guess that she came to Roma later and learned her craft in either Catania or in Napoli.

[1980gms]

The specific label of Silvestri says both names, Catania and Roma. Camera showed only one side. Probably she (?) had 2 workshops in the same time. Generally speaking the mandolins with this label were better instruments that the others with the reference of Catania alone.

[Jim Garber]

I think in the video, it said Roma on the right side. I wonder what that meant. Pretty unusual for a luthier to be a woman in those days, no?

[brunello97]

The Musica Viva site lists her as born in 1881 and passing in 1950:

http://www.musicaviva.com/test/encyc...87&startat=201

Are there labeled/dated instruments that post-date her death?

Mick

[1980gms]

[QUOTE=Jim Garber;998610]I think in the video, it said Roma on the right side. I wonder what that meant.

You are absolutely right. I suppose that all these labels had different variations from time to time.......

[Jim Garber]

I started a thread on Larry Brown's restoration of a 1793 Fabbricatore mandolin here.

[timcat]

Greetings-

I've never posted before, so I will probably need some help on figuring out how to do things like get images posted that I would like to share.

I recently acquired a lovely bowlback mandolin by Anastasios Stahopoulo. It has the multipiece laminated neck, the huge tortoise shell plate around the soundhole, the AS logo in it below the soundhole and a small burned stamp of "Stathopoulo New York". It does not have any inlay on the headstock and only has position dots inlaid on the soundboard. It has quite nice marquetry around the edge of the soundboard. There are 29 ribs. It is in excellent condition and plays like a dream, although the action is a bit high as you go up the neck. It has a large Peate Brothers label in it, and there may be another label underneath it. Peate Brothers was based in Montreal and bought mandolins made in Italy and New York and sold them under their label from 1890 to about 1920. This is 1915 or before since Anastasios died in 1915.

I have two things that I would like to know. One is: How common are mandolins made by him? And what are guesstimates on the value of it? For insurance and for sale?

[Jim Garber]

One main characteristic is the laminated neck. Can you post some pics? They are not so common but a few have shown up here. The action high up the neck could be a sing that it may need some neck adjustments.

[timcat]

I just posted pics on the pictures. The action is something that could be resolved by taking about 1/32 of an inch off the bottom of the bridge. If there is a problem with the neck, it's minor. It maybe that the bridge is not original.

[timcat]

Here are some pics. I am still trying to figure out how to do postings!

[timcat]

Woops! Here is another picture.

[Jim Garber]

timcat: here are instructions on how to post a picture.

[Jim Garber]

timcat: I think your bridge looks about right. Here is one with a similar bridge -- bear in mind that it is upside down.

[Schlegel]

I can't quite tell if the OP's bridge is supposed to have a bone saddle or if it's just a wood one-piece- Timcat- can you do a closeup picture?

[Charles E.]

Well, this only took about a year and a half and a couple of continents, but I am now joyously exploring the tonal possibilities of my dream Embergher in full voice and condition. Super structural work by Kurt DeCorte of Belgium and unbelievable dedication and meticulous setup work by my good friend, Ralf Leenen. If only I can play 1/100 as well as him.

Now that the rains have subsided I hope to get some good photos to post here.

Here are a few older, pre-restoration pics:

Jim, looking forward to some pics.

[Jim Garber]

All right... I had taken these a few weeks ago but here they are.

[Bruce Clausen]

That is a thing of great beauty. Thanks, Jim. Of course you realise we'll be wanting to hear it too.

[brunello97]

Awesome, Jim. What a real treat. You know I was just thinking about you today in the office, wondering how your Embergher repair had turned out. I don't remember seeing the 'before' pictures when you had posted them. This looks simply great. I realize that in my fussy way, I have nitpicked about Embergher design 'looks' over the years, but yours is simply fantastic. No silly dragon scratchplates or dopey bottle-opener headstocks, just good clear lines and details. I am hoping that you are (understandably) thrilled. Was it Kurt who did the work for you? It looks wonderful.

Yes, +1 with Bruce. More photos please and sounds when you can.

Mick

[Tavy]

That's a beauty Jim - sound clips please!

[Charles E.]

Thanks Jim, that is incredable.

[Jim Garber]

The mandolin was in excellent shape structurally. Kurt made a new scratchplate from Tortis material that Ralf had. The traditional method that Embergher used was to underlay gold leaf so there is that under the Tortis. The top was in amazing shape to being with so I don't think that much was needed there. The worse part was the ribs on the back which someone had filled with what looks like plastic wood. I think he worked that down to the original thickness and then he or his assistant finished it to match the rest of the bowl. Ralf did the final set up and fine-tuned and intonated the bridge and the new nut.

The other cool think was that it was built in 1904 when the shop was relatively small. Ralf believes that a good part of it may have actually been built by Embergher himself. Another cool detail is his signature and the model stamp inside.

I will try to do some quick sound files and I hope my playing is sufficient to give you an idea of the depth and responsive of the instrument. I stupidly did not record Ralf playing it.

[brunello97]

Gold leaf under the Tortis? That is pretty cool. Nice way to get some luminosity out of the scratchplate. I love the stamp.

I wonder how much 'plastic wood' is having to be surgically removed from all kinds of things. I guess like a lot of tattoos, it might have seemed like a good idea at the time.


Mick

[Jim Garber]

Closeups of original plastic wood or whatever (Bondo?) from outside and inside.