The maker, Di Giorgio is still alive and well (as a business, of course) in Brazil. Not sure if the modern one has a connection to the original one in question, but quite possibly. I had a Di Giorgio guitar once before.
The maker, Di Giorgio is still alive and well (as a business, of course) in Brazil. Not sure if the modern one has a connection to the original one in question, but quite possibly. I had a Di Giorgio guitar once before.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Rione Amadeo would have been a very up market address in old Naples, a zone with grand buildings and show-piece palaces.
Probably why it appeared so boldly on the gilded lettering adding to the sense of luxury.
I would love if we could get some more background about the elderly owner's grandmother. We already can tell she or her family were able to shop for expensive and unique instruments in places with prestigious addresses. It would be really nice to get the link back to their acquisition and a flavour of who could buy and commission these rarities.
Eoin
"Forget that anyone is listening to you and always listen to yourself" - Fryderyk Chopin
Eoin
"Forget that anyone is listening to you and always listen to yourself" - Fryderyk Chopin
I have no acquaintance with the family that owns these instruments but, from the granddaughter's account of her grandmother, I do get a sense of a life of luxury and leisure. On that account, she lived visiting opera houses around the world, painting for her own pleasure, writing poetry for her friends and family, and collecting things of beauty-- which brings us where we are. She also apparently played the "mandolin", if by that we are to surmise that she played these.
That strikes me as remarkably odd. It seems wildly recherche to be playing such instruments, by any standard out of the ordinary. The family lived in various parts of Latin America but that's neither here nor there; they are Spanish-speakers, not Portuguese-speaking Brazilians. Besides, the world has been cosmopolitan for much longer than one might at first assume. Italian luthiers often emigrated to the Americas, others, American-born apprenticed in Europe etc.
I have asked for more images. I don't count much on getting any meaningful, descriptive information from the current owner. I will be happy to share...
It is not man that lives but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
I just scoured a few of my instrument books and find very few instruments that resemble what we can see of these two. If, indeed, there is an extended tuning area a large number of examples are more like teorbos or instruments with harp extensions (like the arch-citterns). Closest I can find are the Italian citterns below. Sorry they got cut off but these are large books. If there are any of interest I can scan those photos. The color one is a French cittern from the 17th century. You should be able to read the decription on the two pages (from Baines book.)
Citterns seem to almost always have flat backs but we don't have a clue what theses look like. Looking forward (if possible) to seeing larger more detailed photos.
BTW, Victor, our friend Carlo Aonzo has done some extensive research on mandolin-like instruments like these.
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Searching for images of something altogether different, I stumbled across this posted during one of my prolonged absences from the cafe. I first observed this instrument around 2003 or '04 when I was working on a couple invited chapters to a failed book project (initiated by Dan'l Terry, later taken up by Gregg Miner, and then entirely abandoned; it was intended to be something like what Graham's book came to be, but more "mandolino"/"mandola"-centric with only cursory mentions to ancestors of differing names). I returned to the Stearns specifically to measure this instrument in 2006 or '08 or so (I have notes someplace in my office from which I am exiled by COVID). Dr. Lam was curator at the time of those visits. At that time, the Stearns warehouse was in deplorable condition. I get the impression that they may have come to be better funded since.
I was convinced that this piece was an early and deliberately experimental—likely a one-off to satisfy his own curiosity—Embergher. The crispness of line and interior of the bowl are telling. It's not too different from his known early pieces with tension pegs, e.g. I had some correspondence with Ralf Leenen and Barry Pratt to follow (I do know that was 2008). We'd intended to collaborate on an article. However, day job intervened, and I never got around to it. At the time, I'd speculated that the piece was built to the concept of "mandolino lombardo a corde doppie metalliche" as described in the appendix to Pisani (1899). (Although it had the remnants of some gut strings on it. Its bridge had also been glued to the soundboard, and I don't believe it was originally. I suspect some meddling, possibly by whoever originally acquired it for Frederick Stearns.)
Last edited by Eugene; Dec-19-2020 at 12:44pm.
PS: I dug a little deeper into my e-mail archive on this odd 6-course Embergher. It looks like my first visit with the piece was in summer 2004 and my return was in autumn 2008. While we discussed an article in 2008, I found that I'd first written to Ralf Leenen and Barry Pratt regarding the instrument in January 2005. This was before I had checked the terminology proposed by Pisani as referenced above. An excerpted copy-and-paste transcription from our 2005 correspondence:
I do not believe the university has the original acquisition documentation for every piece in the collection. Stearns collected instruments throughout the late 19th c. and donated his collection to the University of Michigan in 1899. This mandolin was in the collection when it was first catalogued by the university in 1918; I suspect it was part of the original donated collection in 1899. I don't believe anybody has used or worked on the instrument since.
I suspect this thing is authentic, but it certainly is odd. It is not like anything else of which I'm aware to have originated in Embergher's shop. The label is handwritten in script on a rather ornately shaped paper label: an exact transcript:
Luigi Embergher
Costruttore di Strumen-
ti Armonici
Roma
1890
("Strumenti" didn't quite fit onto the line given the ornamental cut of the paper.) The instrument's decor is very spartan, but the construction is very neat. The bowl features 23 ribs of rosewood, 21 of which are fluted. Its interior is meticulously and perfectly lined with wood shavings. The soundboard features a small, central oval hole flanked by a pair of stylized f holes. The cant is very pronounced. I believe the bridge was once free of the table, but some owner in its past sloppily slathered a great amount of glue to fix the bridge in its current position. The scale is rather shortish and Lombard-like: 300 mm. The ebony fingerboard is obviously scalloped. The headstock is a strongly tapered "V" shape with its point at the terminus. It features geared tuners, six to a side, that appear original. This was built for 6 courses of paired strings and, I would speculate, Lombard tuning: g-b-e'-a'-d"-g". It has old broken and worn gut and wound multi-filament strings on it at present; I thought this instrument might have originally been intended for gut, but, on further thought, the cant and geared tuners would seem to imply its intended stringing was metal. I believe this piece was crafted in Embergher's own hands and represents a rather odd effort at hybridizing Roman and Lombard mandolin types, perhaps a six-course mandolin of decidedly Roman style to capture the old Lombard-type markets.
Because I'd referenced the Stearns Collection's published catalogue, here's its entry on the piece (transcribed from 2008 e-mail correspondence with Dr. Joseph Lam, but I'd originally transcribed it from the physical document, full citation below):
Stanley, A. A. 1918. Catalogue of the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments. The Univ. of MI, Ann Arbor. (Ohio State University's music and dance library actually holds a physical copy of the catalogue. For the pathologically curious, it should be available via inter-library loan.)1058. Mandolino, Italy: Oval body. Purfled sound-board. Machine head. Three pairs of gut, and an equal number of over-spun silk strings. Twenty metal frets. One oval and two F sound-holes. V-shaped head. Length, 61 cm; of body, 32 cm; width, 21 cm; depth, 14 cm. Signed--"Luigi Embergher, Roma, 1890."
Last edited by Eugene; Dec-22-2020 at 4:57pm.
PPS: And, just for good measure, from the appendix "Varie forme di mandolini e strumenti affini" of Pisani's method (Pisani, A. 1899. Manuale teorico–pratico del mandolinista. Ulrico Hoepli Editore, Milan):
Mandolino lombardo a corde doppie metalliche: Il Casini ha costruito anche questo tipo di mandolino, per ovviare forse all'inconveniente che presentano i mandolini lombardi, che le corde si frangono con estrema facilità e ben di frequente. La tastiera è identica a quella del mandolino lombardo. Le corde 12 cioè 6 doppie (unisone a due a due). [pg. 133]
My effort at translation:
Lombard mandolin with doubled metal strings: Casini has also constructed this type of mandolin, perhaps in order to obviate the disadvantage that Lombard mandolins present, that the strings break extremely easily and very frequently. The fingerboard is identical to that of the Lombard mandolin. The strings 12, that is 6 doubled strings (the two of a course played in unison).
Last edited by Eugene; Dec-22-2020 at 5:00pm.
I was talking to Lorenzo Lippi some time ago and he mentioned that he once had a chance to look at Embergher's archive of private orders and that E. was willing to accommodate individual orders as funny as adjusting the bowl shape to suit the shape of a fat belly for one of the customers, for example. I guess this one could have been the private order for Bandurria-like instrument that was completed using the mandolin body E. had in stock.
. . . and there certainly was some precedent for the existence of a "Mandolino lombardo a corde doppie metalliche."
Here it is, once again, for posteriority.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
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Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Perhaps answering Bro' Eug's question from 2008 (thread post # 3912) here is a "Griffith" mandolin on the Ebay.
Elegantly shaped rosewood bowl, nice detailing and graceful fretboard extension.
The Philadelphia address and the various details makes one assume an association with Weymann or perhaps OSchmidt up the NJ Turnpike.
Maybe a similar tailpiece pulled into Nazareth and wound up on a Martin bowl such as Eugene was asking about....
It's a pretty mandolin under all that grime.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
My daughter pointed this one out to me on eBay. It's intriguing, but it needs just a little more work than I'd feel up to investing in it.
I was just browsing old editions of the BMG Magazine (from the archive here) and came across the cover of the December 1949 edition. I believe the instrument E.J. Tyrell is playing is a Gelas bowlback, with rather more decorations than normally seen on Gelas instruments. It also looks to have a very narrow soundboard, but that may be because of the angle he's holding it.
Martin
Certainly looks Gelas-esque.
Seems to also be another plainer Griffith. I couldn't find the first one. Have a link?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I bought a sequined suit from a Pearly Queen.....
Likely from the good folks at L+H, now at Elderly.
Pretty out of control design-wise, but the fretboard, soundhole inlay and pickguard combo are muy splendido.
You don't see that very often outside of Catania...
Maple bowl.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
I think that is an early Washburn style 80 but there Is a fluted style 85 beyond that glitz. I think I have a tailpiece like that somewhere. Mick, did you really buy it?
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
No, no, Jim. I just thought that inlay was a notch or two (or three) above what we often see in US bowls...which tended much more to the 'classical' in decoration, particularly post Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, which was likely still very influential at the time of this mandolin.
The beautiful Chicago linework of Sullivan and Wright doesn't really show up in GreatLakesRim mandolins, the way Art Deco / Liberty Style was so reflected in Calace and Cristofaro's work from the era. This one leans a little more that way to my eye.
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
Dear Victor,
These two items are ornamental miniature mandolins/lutes, crafted in Napoli in the middle of the XIXth century. Similar one here :
http://www.pauldegrande.com/antique/...rument-in-box/
I have one very similar too and will try to post pictures of it.
They belong to the vast series of miniature instruments manufactured from the end of XVIIIth century for different decorative purposes, among others for putting into the hands of Arlequino statues in Christmas Nativity scenes. They exist in many different sizes and were not meant to be played at all !
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
______________________
'05 Cuisinart Toaster
'93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
'12 Stetson Open Road
'06 Bialetti expresso maker
'14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig
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