Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino

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Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino Handmade Sicilian Acoustic Parlour

The pictures below were taken in Rotterdam and dated June 1, 1925

1) in de hands of Bernard Vroklage and his wife Amanda Wolf (fig.

Both the guitar and mandolin on the top provided with a branded

1 Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino Handmade Sicilian Acoustic Parlour Guitar from c The pictures below were taken in Rotterdam and dated June 1, 1925 showing a GIC-guitar and -mandolin (fig.1) in de hands of Bernard Vroklage and his wife Amanda Wolf (fig.2 & 3). Both the guitar and mandolin on the top provided with a branded circular trademark: Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino CATANIA (fig.4,5 & 10) fig. 1, 2 & 3 fig. 4 detail of the branded mark About this guitar Initial owner Bernardus Maria Vroklage *1888 Hilversum 1962 Rotterdam (Netherlands) His daughter Margaretha Mathilda Vroklage *1922 Rotterdam 2011 Rotterdam (Netherlands) Her niece Christine Amanda Lucia Vroklage *1958 Voorburg (Netherlands) 1

2 Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino Acoustic Parlour Guitar fig. 5 2

3 fig.6 Description and dimensions Spruce flat top with branded trademark fig.10 Walnut arched back fig.14 Walnuts sides Cupboard bond inlaid with mother of pearl and black mastic, additional shading brim with mastic and fir on the top fig.6 Cabinet binding of cedar (?) on the back cover fig.14 Rosette inlaid with mother of pearl and mastic Flat rosewood fingerboard, 17 straight brass frets Brass heads with bone made buttons fig.6 Inlaid decoration with mother of pearl and tortoise under the strings on the top fig.6 Bridge made of rosewood and brass, nut made of bone Inside a paper label with factory, name and town fig.11 Dimensions fig. 7 & 8 Length (cm) 93.8 Strings length 60.5 Body length 45.5 Body width upper part: 25.4 Body width lower part: 30.7 Body thickness 8.5 Total body thickness incl. bridge: 9.5 3

4 fig. 7 fig. 8 fig. 9 4

fig. 10 & 11 FABBRICA DI STRUMENTI MUSICALI A CORDA G. INDELICATO CONTARINO & C. Via.

12 The decoration under the strings and a branded trademark are typical for many Italian mandolins that are almost

Condition With the exception of the strings and the bridge pins, which appear to consist of pieces of raw wood and

5 fig. 10 & 11 FABBRICA DI STRUMENTI MUSICALI A CORDA G. INDELICATO CONTARINO & C. Via. C A T A N I A Note: no address and the label is cut out by hand (fig.11) fig. 12 The decoration under the strings and a branded trademark are typical for many Italian mandolins that are almost all equipped with this type of ornamentation. Condition With the exception of the strings and the bridge pins, which appear to consist of pieces of raw wood and match sticks (!), this guitar is in its very original condition. The rear of the body wears a small scratch (red arrow top-right) and a number of cracks in the longitudinal direction (open arrows) however without noticeable dislocation. fig. 13 5

6 fig. 13 fig. 14 6

7 Furthermore, this guitar is practically undamaged and in excellent condition. The brass frets are not worn and the tuners work properly. However, the guitar has not been played for over 65 years and needs to be readjusted. With this guitar comes the original soft cloth-cover and a guitar course from around : Ferry Kabath - Moderne Pectrumgitaarschool (Modern Pick Guitar School) c (in Dutch). fig. 15 fig. 16 7

Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino Liutaio Siciliano chitarra classica - Fabbrica di Strumenti Musicali a Corda Sicilian Luthier of classic guitars - Factory of Stringed Musical Instruments Giuseppe

His first workshop was situated in the Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 and later moved to the Via Botte dell Acqua 17-19 both located in Catania.

& Mario Indelicato the Fratelli Indelicato (= Brothers Indelicato) who had also a workshop at the Via Botte dell Acqua nr.

8 Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino Liutaio Siciliano chitarra classica - Fabbrica di Strumenti Musicali a Corda Sicilian Luthier of classic guitars - Factory of Stringed Musical Instruments Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino (born c. 1890?) was a luthier of mandolins, guitars, banjos and Hawaiian guitars from Catania, Sicily (Italy) around His first workshop was situated in the Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 and later moved to the Via Botte dell Acqua both located in Catania. His factory exported guitars worldwide, from Argentina to Japan to New Zealand. The factory was inherited by his two sons Giuseppe jr. & Mario Indelicato the Fratelli Indelicato (= Brothers Indelicato) who had also a workshop at the Via Botte dell Acqua nr.7 and after the death of Mario around 1960, it remained in the hands of Giuseppe Indelicato jr. and was moved again from the Via Botte dell Acqua to the Via Daniele 15, also in Catania CT. During WWII Giuseppe jr. served in de Italian Navy and Mario, who continued the business, used his mother s family name Indelicato-Fichera to label his products. (fig. 18) The company was dissolved c because of the upcoming competition of the Japanese guitar makers. Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino had two sons Mario & Giuseppe Indelicato jr. the latter had a daughter Patrizia Indelicato. He was also a relative of Salvatore Indelicato and Giovanni Indelicato Contarino. Indelicato is a familiar name in Catania county. This information was derived from the forum posts by Patrizia Indelicato (see below p.12-13) Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino instrument labels Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 Via Botte dell Acqua Hand signed Hand signed English label 8

Sicily South Italia www.mandolinluthier.

nl/maps/place/catánia The first workshop of luthier Giuseppe

in the: Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 Via Botte dell Acqua 17-19

9 Sicily South Italia Catania CT The first workshop of luthier Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino was situated in the center of Catania CT in the: Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 Via Botte dell Acqua Via Daniele 15 and was later moved to the and moved c.1960 to the all situated in CATANIA CT - Sicily - Italy. (fig.19) 9

10 Catania Centre - Via Crescenzio Galatola (pin) Catania both earlier locations on a 550 m distance Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 Via Botte dell Acqua Via Daniele 15 fig

INDELICATO CONTARINO Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 CATANIA No 104 (written in ink) Signed in ink by Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino fig.

11 A mandolin by Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino Fabbrica di Strumenti Musicali a Corda G. INDELICATO CONTARINO Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 CATANIA No 208 (written in ink) And signed in ink by Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino Mandolin label G. INDELICATO CONTARINO Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 CATANIA No 104 (written in ink) Signed in ink by Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino fig. 20 & 21 Description: classic Italian Potato Bug mandolin with beautiful inlaid butterfly design, of tortoise shell, ivory and mother of pearl, with light engraving. The body of the piece crafted of various woods, including walnut and cypress, and also features ivory tuning pegs, an ebony neck and banded inlay. Manufactured by Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino of Catania, probably late 19th or early 20th Century. Acquired in Italy. Condition: fair to good, the piece is generally solid, with some slight cracks to the face board. There is also some missing band inlay, and some chips from the tortoise shell inlay. Size: Measures 24 1/2 inches long Price: $ (fig. 20 & 21) Source: ebay advertisement In his 'Manuale Teorico-Practico del Mandolinista' of 1923, arguably the end of the Golden Age of the Mandolin, Agostino Pisani cites the following as notable makers, perhaps a more reliable guide than the number of existent instruments to be seen today. Naples: Vinaccia Fratelli; Maratea, Michele & Domenico E Figli; Esposito, Fratelli Pasquale & Gaetano; Calace, Raffaele; Rubino, Gennaro; Loveri, Carlo & Figli; Ricci, Luigi; Abbate, Alessandro & Figli; Catania: Carabba Fratelli; Indelicato, Salvatore; Porto, Rosario & Figli; Alfio, Bianca Francesco; Puglisi Reale & Figlio; Silvestri, Ermelinda; Firenze: Maurri R. & Fratelli; Lybeert, Alessandro & Figli; Casini, Seraphino; Del Perugia, Fernandino; Rome: Valente, Raffaele; De Santis, Giovanni & Figli; Embergher, Luigi; Source: 11

Sources: http://www.fetishguitars.com/sicily-southern-italy/ http://www.fetishguitars.com/sicily-southern-italy/indelicato-contarino/ https://www.google.nl/maps/place/catánia http://www.

12 Sources: Patrizia Indelicato granddaughter of Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino, daughter of Giuseppe Indelicato Jr. Forum: Patrizia Indelicato, December 31, 2013 Hello, Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino (born c. 1890) was my grandfather and he was a luthier manufacturing mandolins, guitars, banjos and Hawaiian guitars in Catania in the Via Crescenzio Galatola 27 and later in the Via Botte dell Acqua always in Catania. He exported worldwide, from Argentina to Japan to New Zealand (I collected the stamps from various of his customers). The factory was inherited by his two sons the Fratelli Indelicato = Brothers Indelicato (Giuseppe jr. & Mario) and after the death of my uncle (Mario), about 50 years ago (c. 1960), it remained in the hands of my father (Giuseppe Indelicato Jr.) and the factory moved from the Via Botte dell Acqua to the Via Daniele 15 in Catania CT. My father ended the business about 35 years ago (c. 1975) when I was still in high school, because he had become elderly (he is now almost 101 years b. 1912) and because at that time Japan Yamaha was competing with the guitar luthiers and they offer good value for money, however I am pleased that his (Giuseppe Indelicato) and his father's (Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino) high-end musical instruments are still popular today. * Blue text markings are my additions and estimations. Translation by Google Translate 12

Patrizia Indelicato, January 1, 2014 I ve left Catania almost 30 years ago (c. 1980) but I will try to get information when I see my father (at Easter).

about his family (I know that his mother, Maria Fichera, died when he was young), however I think that the real luthiers were he (the grandfather) (GIC) and my

This Christmas I tried to get some details, but his memories are always about the period when he embarked on the destroyer Antoniotto Usodimare or that he was

I know that in Catania were 2 luthiers: Indelicato and Carmelo Catania, about Carmelo Catania, for me to understand how people lived during the war, told me of

13 Patrizia Indelicato, January 1, 2014 I ve left Catania almost 30 years ago (c. 1980) but I will try to get information when I see my father (at Easter). I know very little of my grandfather (and I actually never knew that the stamps I collected were from the customers of my father) and my father speaks little about his family (I know that his mother, Maria Fichera, died when he was young), however I think that the real luthiers were he (the grandfather) (GIC) and my uncle (Mario Indelicato-Fichera) who signed himself with the name of my Grandma in the period when my father was in the Navy (War). This Christmas I tried to get some details, but his memories are always about the period when he embarked on the destroyer Antoniotto Usodimare or that he was captured and imprisoned by the British in Africa. (In the period of the Brothers Indelicato Mario took care of guitars and his relations with customers). I know that in Catania were 2 luthiers: Indelicato and Carmelo Catania, about Carmelo Catania, for me to understand how people lived during the war, told me of ski-boots barter between him and the latter (She gave him a pair of boots and Carmelo has built a beautiful pair of wooden skis for her). fig. 22 beautifully restored GIC mandolin (source: internet) 13

fig. 17 Italian Luthier c.1930 Giacomo Bisiach (1900-1995) fig.

14 fig. 17 Italian Luthier c.1930 Giacomo Bisiach ( ) fig. 18 Mario Indelicato Fichera mandolin c (Taisamlu - ebay.com) Unless stated otherwise: text & pictures by Roelf Backus Zeist - Netherlands roelfbackus@gmail.com Updated: 30 July

The Violin. By: Scott Moody. English 460. Due: Fri. Dec. 19 Mr. Bloomfield

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