Mandolin by Raffaele Calace from 1925

[Oliver67]

Dear Forum,

I have an old mandolin by Raffaele Calace from 1925. At least that's what it says on the label. I am not a musician and have no idea about mandolins. Nevertheless, I would like to be able to better classify the instrument. Is the instrument valuable? Is it a rarity or mass produced? Is it worth selling? Questions about questions. I am very grateful for any hints!

Kind regards, Oliver

[Richard500]

Yes, it’s a good one! Someone else will further identify where it falls in the Calace production or what it could sell for, I can’t do that. It does appear to be in excellent, unmodified shape. Its playability and any needed repairs would have to be determined by a luthier experienced in bowl backs, so if you disclose your approximate location, again, there can be suggestions. Do not take it to any random music store. And do not let any friends tune it up or change the strings. It’s fragile.
Personally, I think it’s an appealing design - the decoration that is.

[brunello97]

There is an abundance of information on Raffaele Calace available online and even likely in your local library.

A simple search will likely yield you an enormous treasure trove of information. Far easier than we can summarize here.

Or....a search here for "Calace" will bury you in conversations had over the years.

In short, yes...it is a valuable mandolin. The price of which perhaps in the $3K + range if it is in as good as condition as it appears to be.

Rarity? No...The ditta Calace made a lot of mandolins over the years and are still in business, but they are hand made, meticulously crafted instruments to this day.

A simple search will lead you to their current website.

I'm not meaning to be lazy in not providing you with links....but Raffaele Calace was a significant figure in early 20th c. mandolin music...and beyond... and his mandolins have always been some of the best.

Their design approach has been long been with an Art Nouveau (Liberty Stile in Italy) flourish of assymmetry and elegant linework. It's been the source of many imitators.

Others here may be kinder than me and provide you with the links and references it will be quite easy to find yourself.

So the deal around here is this:

In exchange for even the preliminary information provided above, the quid pro quo is:

1. a lot more information on the history of the instrument from your perspective

2. a lot more photos of the mandolin. A lot.

Deal?

Mick

[Oliver67]

Thanks so much for the helpful posts!

Regarding research: my Google searches yielded ranges from $300 to $3,000+. For me as a layman, matching the instrument to existing offerings is extremely difficult. Unfortunately, I have not found a visually similar instrument.

About origin: I come from Leipzig, Germany. Leipzig is a medium-sized city, about 200 km south of Berlin.

The mandolin originally came from an estate when I lived in Berlin. A bunch of sheet music was given to me there as well. The instrument is very respectable and so I kept it for now. I had only rudimentary contact with the original owner. I never heard him play the instrument. So I can't contribute anything more to the history.

I have written to regional restorers and music stores. So far with little response. Yet Leipzig has quite a reputation in the music world. Bach, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Grieg, Mahler worked here, Wagner was born here. But mandolins don't seem to be that much of a topic

My daughter plays the violin passably. A nice idea would be to turn the mandolin, which is very attractive but of less emotional value to me, into a special violin.

I'll post some more photos. Tomorrow, when it's light again, I can post some more.

Greetings, Oliver

[vic-victor]

Your mandolin looks like it could be playable without any restoration from what I can see from the photos. May need new strings and that's all. Your daughter being a violin player may take an interest in trying mandolin, as it has the same tuning, so left hand knows what to do. Just a couple of days of practice and she will be able to play some tunes. But no no, don't attempt to convert it to a violin, it won't work. It is a nice instrument and 1.5K Euro can be made quickly if you decide to sell it. Not sure of 3K, that's the area of better fluted models already.

[Oliver67]

As promised, I post a few more pictures. Many thanks also to Victor. However, I don't think I can inspire my daughter to play the mandolin. She has her own ideas. Therefore, I rather think of selling. Greetings, Oliver

[vic-victor]

Nice Calace! If you'd like to sell just list it in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds and see how you go. If I were in the market for a new bowlback I'd consider this one.

[happyfanaticsalsero]

Though an old thread, I wanted to add in my information and check on the status.

Yes, it's a valuable and nice instrument. It's a nr.13, part of the "brevettato '900" series (so-called after the 1900 patent Calace claimed on this new type of concert mandolin). The label and all else seems to match the period. It's already using substitute materials (celluloid instead of tortoiseshell and an early plastic for the armguard). Nr 13 is the most common of the brevettato series and this, though pre WWII, is a later one, which affects the value a bit.
There is one slight alteration on this instrument, which is the strap button which got installed at the back. It's a bit of an eyesore and also could potentially affect the structural integrity of the clasp, but I think that's not the case.
I've seen these usually make 1500-2000€ unrestored at auction. Restored, they can make more depending on musical value and other factors. But the higher figures are usually for the nrs 15, 16, 16bis (or 18 but you rarely see those).

I own a nr 13 in maple (very rare as these are normally only made in palissander woord), very similar to this one, and it's currently my preferred instrument.
I've sent a private message as well, as I'd be up for a sister instrument in palissander, and I'm based in Belgium so not that far away.

Kind regards
Pieter

[Oliver67]

Hello Pieter,

please excuse the late reply. Thank you very much for the additional information about the mandolin. And yes, the mandolin has not yet been sold and I am reluctant to go to the trouble of restoring it. I had a few offers from interested parties here in Germany. However, they didn't want to pay more than 500 to 700 €. That was no incentive for me to sell it. You're right, Belgium is not too far away from Germany In fact, my mother-in-law lives in Nordhorn, not far from Enschede in the Netherlands. My family is there from time to time. So, if you're interested. I'm sure we can get together somehow. I'd be delighted if it worked out.

Best regards, Oliver