Antique Mandolin
An antique mandolin brings music and romantic form into a room, taking shape in bronze, porcelain, gold, and marble across multiple centuries.
Antique Mandolin
The physical objects range from delicate gemstone brooches and porcelain candlestick figures to substantial bronze statues and music boxes. Originating from workshops in Britain, France, and Austria, these pieces capture the enduring appeal of musical performance in decorative art.
Materials and construction
Sculptural pieces rely on cast bronze, terracotta, and carved marble, often finished with patination or fine detail to render the strings and body of the instrument. Soft-paste porcelain receives careful hand-painting, particularly on figures produced in the eighteenth century.
Smaller wearable items utilise nine-carat yellow gold and diamonds, shaping precious metal into the distinct tapered silhouette of the instrument. Music boxes integrate precision metal mechanics housed within traditional cabinetry.
Antique Mandolin Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for mandolin among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings span from the Georgian period through the nineteenth century to the Art Deco era of nineteen-thirty.
Assessing quality
Quality rests upon the crispness of the casting in metal works and the finesse of the hand-painting on porcelain figures. Sculptures that render the intricate details of the instrument's frets and strings with precision demonstrate superior craftsmanship.
Artistic attribution elevates a piece, as seen in works carrying the signatures or documented hands of known makers and sculptors. The choice of materials, from diamonds and gold to high-grade bronze, similarly distinguishes the finest examples.
Alfred Grevin·Justo de Gandarias·B A Bremond·Eduardo Giolli·Josef Lorenzl·Barbedienne·Goldscheider
The Antique Mandolin Glossary
- Soft-paste porcelain
- A type of ceramic paste fired at lower temperatures than hard-paste, common in eighteenth-century figures. It yields a warm, slightly translucent body.
- Ebonised wood
- Timber treated to imitate ebony, providing a dark, dense finish. It frequently appears in nineteenth-century decorative objects and frames.
- Gold gilt
- A thin layer of gold applied to the surface of another metal or material. This technique adds decorative richness without requiring solid precious metal.
- Terracotta
- Fired unglazed clay used widely for sculptural figures. It allows for fine modelling before the firing process.
Antique Mandolin: Frequently Asked Questions
What materials are used?
These pieces utilise a diverse range of materials reflecting their period and medium. Bronze, soft-paste porcelain, terracotta, marble, and nine-carat yellow gold all appear across the selection.
Additional elements include diamonds, enamel, brass, and ebonised wood. Each material dictates the specific handling and care required for the object.
How old are these pieces?
The dates span from the Georgian era through the nineteenth century and into the Art Deco period of the nineteen-thirties. Pieces range from mid-eighteenth-century porcelain to early twentieth-century bronzes.
Each item carries stylistic markers characteristic of its specific decade of origin, from Victorian realism to classical revivalism.
How were they displayed?
Sculptures and statues served as decorative ornaments for mantelpieces, tables, and cabinets in period interiors. Porcelain figures often functioned as candlestick holders alongside their decorative purpose.
Brooches were worn as personal adornment, while music boxes provided auditory entertainment within domestic spaces.
How do I identify periods?
Period identification relies upon stylistic traits, costume details, and manufacturing techniques unique to each era. Georgian porcelain shows different modelling conventions compared to Art Deco bronzes from the nineteen-thirties.
Signatures, foundry marks, and material choices also help anchor an object to its specific historical moment.