Stridente Neapolitan Mandolin Decorated Curved Ribs 1900's

At the turn of the 20th century, the mandolin experienced a true golden age, driven by international enthusiasm that placed it at the heart of bourgeois salons, plectrum orchestras, and popular ensembles across Europe and America.

It was within this vibrant musical and artistic context that this Stridente mandolin was built around 1900, a representative instrument of Neapolitan craftsmanship, then regarded as the absolute benchmark in the field of plucked string instrument making.

At that time, Naples remained the nerve center of mandolin production, with workshops refining the ribbed bowl construction and perfecting decorative techniques to meet the growing demand for instruments that were both acoustically powerful and visually elegant.

The Stridente brand, for its part, was marketed by Joseph Fissore, a dealer and distributor active in France in the early 20th century, who offered under this name instruments inspired by the Italian tradition and intended for both discerning amateurs and professional musicians.

Specializing in Neapolitan lutherie, Stridente drew heavily on the refined aesthetics and emblematic style of Vinaccia.

The richly and finely decorated models with hollow rosewood ribs, such as the one presented here, reflect this commitment to combining acoustic excellence with aesthetic refinement, featuring meticulous marquetry and ornamental work designed to appeal to a demanding clientele.

Thus, this decorated Stridente mandolin from the 1900s brilliantly embodies the aesthetic refinement and tonal richness of the golden age of Neapolitan lutherie, offering its future owner an instrument that is as prestigious as it is inspiring.

Technical specifications:

• Top: Spruce
• Back: Rosewood, 27 ribs
• Neck: Beech with ebony veneer
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Nut width: 30 mm
• Radius: Flat
• Frets: 17 frets
• Scale length: 332 mm
• Neck profile: Neapolitan
• Pickguard: Tortoiseshell, gold-plated, decorated with white mother-of-pearl arabesque motifs
• Country of manufacture: Italy
• Year: 1900s
• Finish: Natural
• Decorations: Binding around the top and rosette / Stylized wave motifs in white mother-of-pearl around the top / Stylized “3” motif in white mother-of-pearl on the rosette / Pickguard decorated with white mother-of-pearl arabesque motifs / Fingerboard inlays in white mother-of-pearl mandorla shapes
• Details: Minor chip on the pickguard / Normal signs of wear and use consistent with its age / Excellent 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 Stridente mandolin is lively, bright, dynamic, balanced, and particularly punchy, with a clear attack and strong projection that carries through the space.
Its shimmering and refined timbre, supported by beautiful depth, offers seductive harmonic richness and expressive qualities ideal for both classical and modern repertoire.