Description
This is a vintage 1920s Art Nouveau style bowl-back mandolin, likely made in Japan. It is made in the style of the romantic-period Italian bowl-back mandolins from the likes of Raffaele Calace. The mandolin is unbranded and does not have any label inside the body.
It is a beautiful instrument and is made with careful attention to detail, especially in the inlay work and bowl back. This mandolin is likely from the 1920s and possibly early 1930s. Raffaele Calace went to Japan in 1924 and taught a handful of Japanese mandolin makers at that time. So, it is not likely to be earlier than that.
There is some lacquer loss on the headstock and the back of the neck as seen in the pictures. The fingerboard has minor wear and the frets are in very goo condition. The hardware (tuners, saddle and bridge) are all original. The finish appears untouched throughout the mandolin. There is minor wear on the bowl back as see in the pictures. The crack on the top board has been carefully repaired by me using the proper techniques and materials. The top sound board under the bridge/saddle is straight and not dipping. The neck is straight and has an action of 3mm at the 10th fret (bass side).
The mandolin features:
- 22 fret neck.
- Abolone dot inlays.
- Mother-of-pearl and wood inlaid sound hole.
- Inlaid design below the sound hole.
- Raised relief bottom bout.
- A 22-rib (staves) bowl back.
- Original Kunishima label inside.
- Overall length is 24″.
Free shipping in the lower 48 United States. Other shipping is available to Hawaii and Alaska. International shipping is available too.
