How marvelous your family owns a very old relic mandolin. I'm sorry it's now so fragile though. If I were able to play strings again, I would add mandolin to guitar and harps and dulcimer. (I suppose I could still manage a hammered one.) Very nice painting.
Just wanted to immortalise the olde family mandolin which is now too antique to get fixed. Restorers say to fix is to ruin its provenance. Thanks Catch! You happy?
We took the strings off as it was under so much pressure. Took it to an antique instrument mender who said it was late 17th century and should be left alone. Every now and then I get it out to stroke it and pretend I am a troubador.
You happy?
how did this come into the family?