Miniature Mandolin
luthier
Unknown
Date16th century
Place MadeItaly, Europe
MediumWood inlaid with mother-of-pearl
Dimensions21.9 x 6.6 x 4 cm (8 5/8 x 2 5/8 x 1 9/16 in.)
ClassificationsMusical Instruments
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberU18e51
eMuseum ID727857
EmbARK ObjectID14232
Previous Number518
TMS Source ID3046
Last Updated8/14/24
Status
Not on viewWeb Commentary
This tiny stringed instrument, laid on its side, is one of the many objects that makes up Gardner’s composition of the Little Salon gilt vitrine. It is one of two Italian miniature instruments that Gardner collected—the other, a lute, is displayed close by.
BibliographyNotesGilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 146. (as Italian, dated 16th century)
ProvenanceNotesEntered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection at an unknown date.
