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Welcome to SoundAntiques

SoundAntiques are dedicated to the many unusual instruments we come across and collect. SoundAntiques is part of a traditional violin and guitar shop located in Guildford, Surrey, UK. Established in 1972. We are makers, dealers and collectors of fine instruments, and offer many specialized and unique services. We invite you to browse this site, to find out more.

Instruments for Sale

I do have some mandolins and guitars in stock for sale: some new, some pre-owned older master examples and some rare antique guitars too- enquire please. I also look to buy outright fine master guitars and high quality mandolins: contact me with what you have for sale please.

Egildo Emanuelle, Roman Mandolin, 1911, serial no: 52

A fine Roman mandolin, signed in ink, labelled and made by Egildo Emanuelle, 1911, no. 52: in near mint original condition. Body in figured and matching maple, of 30 narrow smooth ribs with dark wood spacers, plus the two wide closing ribs of matching wood , with a beautiful grain configuration. Table of spruce, figured maple neck with little evidence of use, and it has been much played, but well looked after. Good original tuners, all working well, shield head with an MOP plate, edged in boxwood, the headstock beautifully and subtly carved. All set up to play, new Lenzner Bronze Consort strings fitted, gauged especially for these type of mandolins, tone very bright, open and sweet, intonation and action perfect. Fingerboard original with original bar frets. A new case will be found for it, included in the price.
The headstock/neck are are beautifully and carefully carved. with the front ebony-faced area sunk down to allow for string clearance. The detailed shaping work is of the highest order. Bone buttons, all original, are present on the tuners, with no wear to any of the gears.
Very little biographical detail seems to be available on this maker, who is unrecorded in most if not all of the standard violin makers dictionaries. It is claimed he was born in 1880, and died in 1955, buried in Rouen, France. One thing is very sure: This mandolin is a fine example of the makers' craft, the total competency of this maker shines out- The body is well formed, with no deformation of the back shell, the action remains perfect after nearly 100 years, no repairs at any stage to the table. The neck has the characteristic triangular cross section, so typical of many Roman mandolins, in fact so many features of this mandolin appear to coincide with the Embergher style, I cannot help but wonder if he did not apprentice or work for Embergher- The quality of the work is as good, if not better. This is number 52, dated 1911, ie possibly made at age 31, and at this point a well- developed and total master of his craft.
Instruments by this maker are very rare, I have never seen one before, nor since, and I am baffled by the fact that he seems to have not been recorded more formally in any text- maybe someone out there can add to my limited information?

Condition:

The body of 30 narrow smooth ribs, plus the 2 wider outer ribs, of honey-coloured matched maple wood with dark spacers inlaid, all good, but with 3 adjacent ribs showing some sings of impact damage, with an old but good repair. ( see photo details). The table is in near perfect original condition, with some signs of 'flambouyant' plectrum mis-use, and has no distortion around the break, soundhole area, or anywhere else. Action very good, the possibly original bar frets, all trued now and dressed, and all the tuners work well- This mandolin is ready to play, and produces a good strong clear tone- fitted with new special Lenzner Consort Bronze strings. The typical inlaid scratch plate with MOP scroll effect, is in perfect condition. The hinged string holder cover/ wrist guard is the original and in good condition, and this makes it very comfortable to play and easy to re-string. All inlays and other decoration are original and completely intact. As far as originality and condition are concerned there can be no finer example, it could be described as in virtually 'museum quality'.

We stock and supply 'Lenzner Bronze Consort' mandolin string sets, made especially for Embergher mandolins and other period concert mandolins, made to the correct original specification

Photos: Egildo Photos

Dimensions: ( all to verify very soon)

Price: Please enquire. Sale will include a fitted hard shell case


Price excludes freight, taxes etc. and VAT ( VAT zero rated if exported from EC, packing free, freight charged at cost- (ParcelForce, FedEx, or UPS)
The mandolin can be sent out for approval, for a 48 -hour period after receipt. However, all freight charges, inwards and outwards, must be borne by the client, import duties may be levied in some countries, and for the USA the 'Lacey Declaration' has to be completed in addition to any CITES permit if needed. An extra charge will be made for obtaining a CITES permit, and any additional documentation needed, which will not be refunded in the event of a 'no sale' taking place. It will also be up to any prospective buyer to obtain at their own expense the full permits needed should the instrument need to be returned, and no refund will be at all until the instrument is back in the studio. Any import duties, customs charges will be borne by the 'buyer', even if no sale eventually takes place. Payment must be in full in advance, and evidence provided of insurance for the journey. For these additional services, a charge will be made. Funds will be refunded in full for the instrument only, provided the instrument arrives back in the shop in the same condition as when it left. If these conditions are not met, then the instrument will be considered 'Sold'.

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