Concert Mandolin Ateliers Gérôme N°21 from 1995

At the end of the 20th century, the mandolin experienced a true revival after several quieter decades, driven by a renewed interest in acoustic and traditional music.
The folk movement of the 1960s and 1970s, followed by the rise of bluegrass and world music, brought the mandolin back to the forefront thanks to international artists who restored the instrument’s major visibility on festival stages and in recording studios.
At the same time, in Europe, the rediscovery of early repertoire and the continued vitality of plucked-string orchestras encouraged a return to handcrafted instruments, sought after for their acoustic precision and tonal authenticity.
The 1980s and 1990s thus saw growing demand for high-quality concert mandolins capable of meeting the technical demands of contemporary soloists while honoring Neapolitan traditions.
This context stimulated specialized lutherie activity, particularly in France, where several workshops perpetuated a demanding savoir-faire centered on plucked string instruments.

The history of Ateliers Gérôme is rooted in the remarkable career of René Gérôme, born in 1884 in Paris.
Mobilized during the First World War, he became bandmaster in Mostaganem, Algeria—an experience that proved decisive in consolidating his musical mastery and artistic standards.
After the war, he trained at Laberte in Mirecourt, where he specialized in instrument decoration, then with L’Huilier, a manufacturer of tuning machines, acquiring in-depth knowledge of both the aesthetic and mechanical aspects of lutherie.
With this dual expertise, he opened his own workshop in 1920 in Mirecourt, the historic cradle of French lutherie.
There he produced a large number of instruments suited to the musical styles of the time, including flat-back and double-top mandolins, banjos, jazz, folk and Hawaiian guitars, as well as ukuleles and balalaikas, precisely meeting the evolving needs of musicians.

From the 1930s onward, his three sons, André (born in 1910), René (born in 1914) and Roger (born in 1918), actively contributed to the development of the family workshop.
In the early 1950s, René Gérôme and his sons reached an impressive output of up to 1,000 mandolins and 900 guitars per year, reflecting the reputation and solidity of the house.
In 1967, at the age of 82, René Gérôme handed over the business to his three sons, who continued the activity under the label “Frères Gérôme.”
In 1968, Lucien Gérôme bought the company from his brothers, and the workshop subsequently evolved under the name “Ateliers Gérôme,” consolidating a recognized artisanal identity.

This family heritage, combined with the renewed interest in the concert mandolin during the 1980s and 1990s, grants instruments produced under the Ateliers Gérôme name undeniable historical legitimacy and musical value.
Thus, this Ateliers Gérôme concert mandolin, crafted in 1995, embodies both the heritage of the great Mirecourt tradition and modern acoustic standards, offering musicians an instrument rich in history and beautiful tonal character.

Technical specifications:

• Top: Spruce
• Back: Flamed maple
• Neck: Maple
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Nut width: 26 mm
• Radius: Flat
• Frets: 22 frets
• Scale length: 340 mm
• Neck profile: C / V
• Pickguard: Cellulose acetate
• Country of manufacture: France, Mirecourt
• Year: October 1995
• Finish: Natural / Translucent Brown
• Appointments: White dot position markers / Floral-inlaid scratchplate / Decorative purfling along the top edge
• Details: Non-original bridge / Light, normal signs of use / Very good condition / Supplied with gig bag

Like all our instruments, this mandolin has been carefully set up.
It therefore offers excellent playing comfort.

The tone of this mandolin stands out for its clear, bright, and perfectly balanced projection, ideal for solo passages as well as ensemble playing.
Its precise, crystalline timbre, rich in overtones, delivers remarkable dynamic response and refined expressiveness, sure to appeal to discerning musicians seeking an authentic and inspiring luthier-crafted instrument.