Raffaele Maratea
Raffaele Maratea 1900's Concert Mandolin
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Raffaele Maratea is the son of Domenico and Michele Maratea, Italian makers of stringed instruments and particularly mandolins in Naples during the end of the 19th century.
A student of the Vinaccia, he was rewarded with an honorary diploma at the Universal Exhibition in Turin in 1898.
Then installed in his workshop at 40 rue Portapiccola Montecalvario, it was around 1900 that he created this very pretty mandolin.
Among other things, he manufactured mandolins to export them to France under the Mircutian brand: La Divina.
Here, this is the case for this mandolin since a peeled “La Divina” label was found inside the mandolin.
This model is perfectly comparable and almost similar to the hollow dimension model also presented for sale.
We clearly recognize the Vinaccia inspiration in this mandolin made with great skill.
Technical characteristics :
- Top: Spruce
- Back: 27 rosewood ribs
- Neck: Ebony veneer
- Fingerboard: Ebony (concert fingerboard)
- Width at nut: 26.5 mm
- Radius: Flat
- Frets: 25 frets
- Scale: 330 mm
- Profile: Neapolitan
- Pickguard: Tortoiseshell inlaid with white mother-of-pearl arabesque patterns
- Country of manufacture: Italy, Naples
- Year: 1900's
- Finish: Natural
- Decorations: White mother-of-pearl pistagne on the edge of the table / Inlays of intertwined wave patterns in white mother-of-pearl on the edge of the table / Inlays of an "F" pattern in white mother-of-pearl on the rosette / Mandorla-shaped key markers in white mother-of-pearl / White mother-of-pearl mechanical eyelets / Maple and ebony bindings on the edge of the table and rosette
- Details: Normal signs of wear given its age
Powerful and balanced, with a typically Neapolitan timbre and a pleasant action, this mandolin will be perfect for a concert mandolinist.
Delivered in its period case.
