Neapolitan mandolin
1
Photo by Digital Imaging Unit © The University of Edinburgh
InstrumentNeapolitan mandolin |
Instrument FamilyStrings |
MakerVinaccia |
Date Made18th Century |
DescriptionTechnical description: One piece soundboard of spruce: 8 grains per 25mm in the bass to 20 grains per 25mm in treble. Rose hole 53.5mm diameter, 61.5mm bevel at outside. Soundhole bevel was possibly originally gilded. Has parchment remains attached to the underside of the soundhole forming an inner edge of the soundhole, about 4mm inside the wooden diameter. Purfling around the soundhole consists of 10 alternate thin strips of fruitwood and ivory, then a wider band of mastic with mother-of-pearl diamonds set into it, and then alternate thin strips of ivory and fruitwood. There is a symmetrical scratchplate of tortoiseshell applied to a gilded backing. The bridge is glued, and made of rosewood with an ivory saddle in the centre. Engraved mother-of-pearl decorations, consisting of angels either side of grotesque heads at the bottom and by the neck. Edging of ivory, with fruitwood/ivory/fruitwood thin strips inside it. 21 ribs on the back, made of cypress, with ebony spacers in between. The outside ribs are much wider than all of the others. Wide cypress endclasp at the bottom. Ebony edge strengtheners glued on the ribs next to the soundboard. Three ebony strips on the endclasp. Ivory endpin. Four ivory endpins for the strings, turned with darkened holes. Neck and head of maple, veneered in ebony and ivory, and the back of the head has three ivory strips inlaid into black painted wood. The top of the head is veneered in tortoiseshell, with strips of ivory/fruitwood/ivory near the edges and engraved mother-of-pearl decoration inside. Eight friction pegs of rosewood or olivewood. Fingerboard of tortoiseshell. The soundboard extends onto the neck so that the tortoiseshell starts at fret 7. V-joint between the neck and the head. Nut of ebony. Neck joins the body just in front of fret 10. Neck 32mm wide at the nut, 43.5mm wide at the body join. Brass bar frets, 0.8mm wide. Overall size: 564mm. Body length: 274mm. Body width, widest point: 166mm. Body depth: 122mm. String length: 331mm. |
NotesD.P. Martin, 27.10.93, 2003. |
Measurements564 |
ProvenanceAcquired with guitar (3384) by the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art in 1869.; Lent by the National Museums of Scotland, 1869.9.35 |
CollectionMIMEd |
Accession Number3374 |