Mandobass 1913

Editor: This striking wooden Mandobass was crafted in 1913 by the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Company. The instrument's large, teardrop-shaped body is so unique. What structural elements are most apparent to you? Curator: Immediately, the strong geometric properties assert themselves. The egg-like form of the body, bisected by the straight line of the bow, creates a fascinating tension. Note how the f-hole is reduced to a circle, further emphasizing pure form. How does that contrast appeal to you? Editor: It's such an unexpected choice, to reduce the f-hole. It makes it almost…abstract. The shape and placement of the bridge, the tailpiece, are they equally important formal choices? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the vertical thrust established by the neck and strings, counterbalanced by the horizontal rest. These relationships construct an intriguing network of visual forces and directional lines. We see evidence of what Gibson sought to emphasize through contrasting dark and light woods, don’t we? Editor: I see that now! The way the dark stain fades into lighter wood emphasizes that curvature. Did Gibson do this to highlight the objectness, the material qualities of the mandobass? Curator: That’s a crucial question. The varnish creates an exceptionally smooth, reflective surface, drawing our attention to the wood’s inherent grain and texture. This is the intersection between material and concept – a celebration of the instrument's tangible existence as a constructed artifact. Editor: So it’s not just about how it sounds, but how it *is*. Thinking about musical instruments in terms of pure form is completely new to me. Curator: Precisely! Hopefully, the application of a Formalist lens helped you see it that way, as a sculptural form, independently of its function.