Sweet music... Antique violin collection and Les Paul signed guitar are to auction

The Camillo Mandelli di Calco collection of violins and 16 electric guitars going under the hammer at Roland Auctions on September 17 may make for strange bedfellows, but that, according to Roland Auction's president, is both the beauty and opportunity of a well-curated general estates auction.

Bill Roland, whose fledgling auction house in Greenwich Village is aiming to be the new place for great bargains, stated that modern designer furniture and lighting are strong too.

Underpinning the big items are several collections of boxes in tortoiseshell, silver, lacquer and wood plus a fine collection of antique portrait miniatures and silhouettes. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

The day's marquee item is a powerful professional instrument crafted in 1929 by the famous Italian luthier Camillo Mandelli. Mandelli, who studied under both Bisiach and Antoniazzi, lived in Italy and Argentina.

The violin (Lot 249) was most likely made in Milan. Ensuite with bow and recital programs, the Mandelli violin's auction value is expected to exceed $12,000.

Camillo Mandelli di Caclo Violin
A valuable violin from the Camillo Mandelli di Caclo collection

On a different note, a collection of 16 electric guitars going off around noon Eastern will have professional musicians and garage bands waking up in time to bid.

The collection kicks off with a fiesta red Pino Palidiono signature Fender Precision bass (Lot 250) followed by an ivory, gold-top Gibson Les Paul signed by Les Paul (Lot 258).

It continues with offerings of the most sought after of guitar brands. For instance, there are two Gibson Firebirds, a Fender Dreadnaught, a 1959 Fender bass, and a Rickenbacker with fireglo finish, to name a few.

Fans of mid-century furniture will marvel at a Brutalist-style mirror of welded concave steel and rough cut edges.

Designed in the manner of Curtis Jere, it is moderately estimated at $300-$400. Meanwhile, a Trienele floor lamp, circa 1950, designed by Gino Sarfatti marries chrome and marble with three adjustable conical shades for a sculptural effect.

Les Paul ivory electric guitar signed
The ivory electric guitar signed by legend Les Paul

There are at least three more architectural mid-century floor lamps, including a pair of attenuated lamps composed of white Lucite panels and blackened steel. Another is a stunning Italian chrome pillar just 8 inches wide and more than 5 feet tall.

Among the seating, Milan's own contemporary designer Paolo Rizzatto is represented by a classic pair of tubular steel chairs with cantilevered seats and leather upholstery.

They could easily be paired with a modernist drop-leaf glass and chrome dining table at Lot 158 or complemented by a two-tier corner with mosaic inlay.

Industrial designer Paul McCobb, who came to prominence in the late 1940s and continued to hold influence until his death in 1969, is also represented. The first item is a lush mahogany sideboard on bronze base created for the Irwin Collection.

It has six panelled doors that open to reveal a fitted interior and a travertine marble top. The second McCobb item is a mahogany headboard of four sections framed in bronze, also designed for the Irwin Collection.

Watch this space for more news of this exciting auction which takes place in New York and online.

 

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