C.A. Kisslinger Decorated Curved-Ribs Mandolin, 1901

This mandolin bearing the label of C.A. Kisslinger dated 1901 belongs to the golden age of instrument making at the end of the 19th century and the very beginning of the 20th century, a period marked by an exceptional craze for mandolin orchestras and salon music throughout Central Europe.

At that time, workshops competed not only in terms of manufacturing and the choice of woods, but also in the meticulousness and symbolism of their decorations, offering instruments with precise acoustics, enriched with symbolic decorations such as those seen here, inherited from the historicist and neo-medieval trends then in vogue.

The work of C.A. Kisslinger perfectly illustrates this alliance between sound quality and artistic refinement, with instruments designed as true works of art intended for a cultured and demanding clientele.

The beginning of the century marked the peak of this craft, when the search for balance, projection, and harmonic richness was combined with sophisticated ornamentation designed to express the prestige and artistic vocation of the instrument.

The presence of two griffins facing each other on the decorative plate is part of a symbolic language deeply rooted in the decorative arts of this period.

The griffin, a mythical creature combining the body of a lion with the head and wings of an eagle, embodies the dual sovereignty of earth and sky, combining strength, courage, and controlled power with vigilance, spiritual elevation, and vision.

Around 1900, this symbol was widely interpreted as a guardian of treasures and knowledge, charged with protecting that which possesses exceptional and lasting value.

Applied to a concert mandolin, it suggests the protection of sound, musical inspiration, and the work of the luthier, giving the instrument an almost sacred dimension.

The representation of two symmetrical griffins reinforces this symbolism by evoking balance, harmony, and the mastery of opposing forces, essential notions in classical music and the quest for sonic perfection.

This type of decoration is also a strong social marker, reserved for high-end instruments intended for experienced musicians or knowledgeable amateurs who are as sensitive to aesthetics as they are to acoustic quality.

This 1901 C.A. Kisslinger mandolin thus combines history, symbolism, and sound in a rare collector's item, designed to appeal to both the eyes and ears of the musicians who will have the pleasure of playing it.

Technical characteristics:

• Top: Spruce
• Back: Rosewood 29 ribs
• Neck: Beech with rosewood veneer
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Nut width: 28.5 mm
• Radius: Slightly curved
• Frets: 17 frets
• Scale length: 330 mm
• Profile: C / V
• Pickguard: Tortoiseshell inlaid with white mother-of-pearl, brass, and nickel silver
• Country of manufacture: Italy, Naples
• Year: 1901
• Finish: Natural
• Decorations: White mother-of-pearl dot fingerboard inlays / Binding around the table and rosette / Mother-of-pearl inlay patterns around the table and rosette / Two griffins inlaid on the nickel silver, brass, and white mother-of-pearl pickguard
• Details: Very good overall condition / Normal signs of wear and use given its age / Bone nut replaced / Apocryphal bridge replaced / Delivered in its original case

Like all our instruments, this mandolin has been carefully adjusted.

It is therefore very comfortable to play.

The sound of this mandolin is characterized by beautiful power, very good dynamics with a clear, precise and finely chiseled tone, offering singing highs and excellent definition in every register.

The deep, warm bass notes provide a noble and balanced foundation that makes the instrument as expressive in solo playing as it is in an ensemble.