Italy
Unknown

Woods, mother-of-pearl, metal
ca. Late 19th century
Height:  25.75 in; Width: 12 in 
Strings – Lutes – Mandolins

This is a late 19th c.  mandolira (lyre-mandolin). It evokes the form of the classical Greek lyre only in the body of a mandolin.  The top is punctuated by two oval sound holes that are decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay and the back has a hemispherical ribbed bowl.  There are four double courses (8 strings); a peg head with 8 ivory pegs; 21 metal frets with the fret board extending past the neck; and mother-of-pearl decoration on the finger board.