Mandolin

"Body of six wide, not fluted, ribs of ebony with formal decoration of mother-of-pearl and ivory all over. The belly, bent inwards at bridge-level, has a round soundhole and an ebony protector plate which, like the borders, the back of the neck and the fingerboard, is decorated in the same manner. The fingerboard extends on to the belly and has seventeen brass frets (of flat strip). The flat head, with curved upper edge is mounted with an engraved silver plate covering a radially arranged screw tuning for the four double courses of wire." Anthony Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), pp. 40-41. [Mandolin] 'Body of six wide ribs of ebony with formal decoration of mother-of-pearl and ivory all over. The belly, bent inwards at bridge-level , has a sound-hole and an ebony protector plate which like the borders, the back of the neck and the fingerboard, is decorated in the same manner. The fingerboard extends on to the belly and has seventeen brass frets. The flat head, with curved upper edge, is mounted with an engraved silver plate covering a radially arranged screw tuning for the four double courses or wire.' Anthony Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), pp. 40-41. [Mandolin case] 'The case has on the front a large shaped panel enclosing the royal arms of Italy (incorrect) and a small oval containing a bunch of flowers; it has a drop handle and two clasps, is lined with red velvet and has a lidded compartment inside.' Museum Registered Description, 1902.