That's kind of cool in a weird way.
"To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus from where you are." Philip Toshio Sudo, Zen Guitar
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Bruce
Fairview, TX
2021 Big Muddy MW-0 #3130 Engelmann Spruce / Walnut
2022 Mia Mandolin F-Style "Rose & Dove" Spruce / Maple
2018 Weber Gallatin A-14F Sitka Spruce / Maple
Because of the artwork the bridge is placed in an absolutely wrong place. I think I have seen an Etsy or maybe eBay store where the seller specializing in painting old flea market finds. This may very well be one of those. My guess it is some low quality instrument that was painted more recently.
Here's the auction on SGW.
I used to read cyrillic but not really understand Russian, however I could make out Fabrika (made by) and musical instrument (the third line at the top) and mandolin artikel (on the right) and Leningrad in the last line. Also, Lunacharskovo (maybe the street name.
We need our friend in Australia to interpret. I still think it odd to paint where the bridge needs to go (esp if this original).
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I think you're right Jim, why else would you refrain from putting that obviously new bridge into the middle of the nice painting they did on the top. The mandolin label is very similar to one that I have here someplace that was translated.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
It made $39. I found many similar Russian versions built in the 90s, cheap, factory built, intended as tourist items, all with different designs. Loosely meant as folk art, the location of the bridge isn’t a consideration. Guess that most are actually hand-painted. Could not match this particular image to saints, warriors, etc. through a bit of Googling. Balalaikas also often made as souvenirs, with decoration mostly on the front.
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