Mandore.

Johann Schorn

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Instrument

Mandore

Instrument Family

Strings

Maker

Johann Schorn

Place Made

Austria ; Europe ; Central Europe

Date Made

1717

Description

Technical description: Soundboard of close grained spruce, essentially one piece, but with a small added piece on the treble side covering a width of about 8mm. The bridge is of ebony, 95mm long and 12mm wide at the bottom, 7mm wide where the strings pass through. The rose is cut directly into the soundboard wood. Rosehole diameter 45.5. The soundboard extends to the highest inlaid fret. There are three small bars visible under the rose area, plus three full-width bars above and three below the rose. Nine ribs of figured maple with a close deep figure. Ebony spacers between each rib. Maple capping piece with a decorative ebony strip inlaid into it. Ivory endbutton into the bottom. There is a small iron hook attached to the top of the body into the ribs for the other end of a strap. The lower edge of the soundboard is protected by a small strip of fruitwood added to the outer edge of the lowest rib. Neck and head of maple, originally stained black. The head joins the neck with an angled half-lap joint, starting halfway along the first fret position. 10 boxwood pegs. Ivory nut. Fingerboard of pear, with an added piece on the bass side, probably dating from when the neck was reduced slightly in width and the soundboard extensions were added (and probably when the 8 brass bar frets were added also). Neck 131mm long, 44.5mm wide at the nut and 52.5mm wide at the body join. Repair History: The neck has been reduced slightly in width and the soundboard extensions added (and probably the 8 brass bar frets were added also). Overall size: 508mm. Body length: 246mm. Body width, maximum: 128mm. Body depth: 67mm. String length: 327mm.

Notes

A. Macaulay, November 1991; D.P. Martin, 2003.

Measurements

508

Provenance

Purchased by H.I. Brackenbury at a Puttick & Simpson auction sale, July 1927, for £4/5/0. ; Government allocation to the University, 1991.

Collection

C.H. Brackenbury Memorial Collection ; MIMEd

Accession Number

1058

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