France
Cigyropaon

Wood, metal, bone, MOP
ca. 1920’s Century
Length: 25 in; Width: 6.38 in; Depth: 3 in
Strings – Lutes – Mandolins

Stamped (etched by pyrography) on the lower right face of the tear-drop shaped resonator: ‘Cigyropaon’ within a scroll

This is a French made Pochette Mandolin possibly made in the 1920s.  It is made of maple with a flatback and stamped (etched by pyrography) on the lower right face of the tear-drop shaped resonator is the name ‘Cigyropaon’ within a scroll.   Ebony is used for the bottom bridge and there are 4 pairs (8) metal strings with ebony tuner buttons.  The fingerboard has five inlaid MOP circles with seventeen (17) metal frets and a metal tailpiece.  The center sound hole and top of the mandolin are edged in bone.   It was possibly made in a small village close to Mirecourt, a famous French town that specialized in making string instruments since the late 1500s.

These small mandolins could easily be transported by Master players, so they could practice and prepare for their concerts.  Despite being narrow, it is a full-scale mandolin and is tuned at normal pitch.