Mandolin

Neapolitan mandolin with four double courses of wire. Front of fine to wide grain, stained brown, with bend. Soundhole with bevelled edge surrounded by tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl collar. Inlaid tortoiseshell plectrum-guard bordered with mother-of-pearl; similar inlaid tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl at tail. Edging and purfling of mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell and ivory. Back of 21 ribs of stained figured maple, with ivory lines between; the two outer ribs are much higher and the transverse section beyond them is a flattened semi-circle. Interior lined all over with paper reinforcement. The ribs are hollowed to give a fluted appearance to the back. Deep capping-strip of elaborate profile. Bone saddle plus four ivory button hitchpins at tail. Loose ebony bridge placed on fold. Silver-alloy frets on fingerboard.