Circa 1900 C. De Julio Bowl-Back Mandolin – Used

One of Gryphon’s co-founders found this mandolin in a San Francisco pawn shop in the early 1970s. Despite the elaborate construction and inlay, it was cheap because the headstock had been broken. At first glance the repair didn’t seem beyond our abilities, until we realized the entire neck was clad in genuine tortoiseshell. The project was shelved until the mid-1980s when we showed it to repair & restoration expert, and close pal, Mario Martello, who had experience heating and forming tortoiseshell. The results of Mario’s restoration far exceeded our expectations and the mandolin became part of Gryphon’s museum of antique instruments, and a few years later was featured on Frank’s FRETS.com website.

We haven’t been able to find much information on C. De Julio of Los Angeles, but better-known luthiers named De Julio were active in New York and also Chicago. Because of the style of this mandolin the 1900 date is logical, but of course it could be earlier or slightly later. It’s very much in the Italian style, with 29 fluted Brazilian rosewood ribs separated by thin bands of nickel silver. The fingerboard is solid mother-of-pearl with abalone inlays, and the elaborate pearl and abalone butterfly inlay is set in a pickguard that’s also real tortoiseshell.

While the alternating bands of pearl forming the binding on the top edge isn’t a rare feature, the dark sections are usually ebony but on this mandolin those are instead tortoiseshell as well, as is the wedge in the top between the bridge and the tailpiece. Pearl tuner buttons, pearl washers for each tuner post, and a pearl nut complete the impressive package of flashy appointments. Tuners, nut, frets, bridge, and tailpiece are original. The finish on the body is also original although Mario did add some French polish to the soundboard.

While it’s now very playable, and has the typical bright ringing tone these bowl-back, or Neapolitan-style, mandolins are known for, it’s doubtful this instrument every saw much use even before its neck was damaged. Such elaborate mandolins were usually presentation pieces in their day, given as gifts to commemorate a special occasion.