Help identify

redraver · 02-06-2009, 02:36 PM

Anyone help please, I bought this today in an antique shop because it looks like a mandolin.
As you can see it has only three pairs of strings I have not met up with this before.
It seems to be the same generation of full Italian mandolin which I have had since the nineteen fifties eg the external fittings are identical.
It is small, measures 53cm long, 13cm across the base and it's roundback is 9cm deep.
Label near keys is from a long gone music shop (shop was called "Nani" in Valletta, Malta where I live)
Label inside gives a Catania Italy telephone number and the words,
Liuteria Artigianale, Avorazio A Mano, Ditta Gaetano Miroglio.
I think the last name refers to the maker / an artist of the instrument?
Would be grateful for any info, hope to get it restringed and playing soon.
Thanks for looking.

Jake Wildwood · 02-06-2009, 08:50 PM

It's called a baglama in Greece, where it's sort of like a mandolin-sized version of a three-course Greek bouzouki.

Don't be confused with the baglama saz of Turkish/middle-eastern origin, though.

redraver · 02-07-2009, 07:49 AM

Many thanks Mr Jake, knowing what it's called has enabled www info to be found.
I am not a great musician but guess I can put some of my spare mandolin strings on it for the moment and get my wife to tune it to D-A-D
Thanks again,
Dave.

brunello97 · 02-07-2009, 08:10 AM

Redraver, do you think you might be able to post a photo of the label?

I have a few images in my files of mandolins built by Vincenzo Miroglio e Figlio, from Catania. I am wondering if Gaetano Miroglio might be the son, or perhaps another Miroglio all together?

thanks,

Mick

redraver · 02-07-2009, 09:30 AM

Thanks Mick, will try to poke lens inside and get back to you,
dave

redraver · 02-07-2009, 09:49 AM

Mick, gave up but as it is not nice label like yours - just a plain white label, probably no point.
It says

Liuteria Artidianale
Lavorazione A Mano
Ditta Gaetano Miroglio
Via Consolazione, One, 60 Catania.

(Have a mandolin with a label similar style to yours by Ermelinda Silvestri
Catania) I know this is around 55 years old. This mandolin has exactly the same chrome string cover plate at it's base as the instrument in question.
Dave

brunello97 · 02-07-2009, 10:16 AM

Dave, does this resemble your Silvestri label?

Mick

redraver · 02-07-2009, 12:27 PM

Mick ,
Mandolin label attached
Dave

02-06-2009, 02:36 PM	#1
redraver Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5	Help identify Anyone help please, I bought this today in an antique shop because it looks like a mandolin. As you can see it has only three pairs of strings I have not met up with this before. It seems to be the same generation of full Italian mandolin which I have had since the nineteen fifties eg the external fittings are identical. It is small, measures 53cm long, 13cm across the base and it's roundback is 9cm deep. Label near keys is from a long gone music shop (shop was called "Nani" in Valletta, Malta where I live) Label inside gives a Catania Italy telephone number and the words, Liuteria Artigianale, Avorazio A Mano, Ditta Gaetano Miroglio. I think the last name refers to the maker / an artist of the instrument? Would be grateful for any info, hope to get it restringed and playing soon. Thanks for looking. Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2009, 08:50 PM	#2
Jake Wildwood Instrument Resurrection Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rochester, VT Posts: 437	Re: Help identify It's called a baglama in Greece, where it's sort of like a mandolin-sized version of a three-course Greek bouzouki. Don't be confused with the baglama saz of Turkish/middle-eastern origin, though. __________________ Mr. Jake Antebellum Instruments My Website My YT Videos

02-07-2009, 07:49 AM	#3
redraver Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5	Re: Help identify Many thanks Mr Jake, knowing what it's called has enabled www info to be found. I am not a great musician but guess I can put some of my spare mandolin strings on it for the moment and get my wife to tune it to D-A-D Thanks again, Dave.

02-07-2009, 08:10 AM	#4
brunello97 Full Grown and Cussin' Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,434	Re: Help identify Redraver, do you think you might be able to post a photo of the label? I have a few images in my files of mandolins built by Vincenzo Miroglio e Figlio, from Catania. I am wondering if Gaetano Miroglio might be the son, or perhaps another Miroglio all together? thanks, Mick Attached Thumbnails

02-07-2009, 09:30 AM	#5
redraver Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5	Re: Help identify Thanks Mick, will try to poke lens inside and get back to you, dave

02-07-2009, 09:49 AM	#6
redraver Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5	Re: Help identify Mick, gave up but as it is not nice label like yours - just a plain white label, probably no point. It says Liuteria Artidianale Lavorazione A Mano Ditta Gaetano Miroglio Via Consolazione, One, 60 Catania. (Have a mandolin with a label similar style to yours by Ermelinda Silvestri Catania) I know this is around 55 years old. This mandolin has exactly the same chrome string cover plate at it's base as the instrument in question. Dave

02-07-2009, 10:16 AM	#7
brunello97 Full Grown and Cussin' Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,434	Re: Help identify Dave, does this resemble your Silvestri label? Mick Attached Thumbnails

02-07-2009, 12:27 PM	#8
redraver Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5	Re: Help identify Mick , Mandolin label attached Dave Attached Thumbnails