The secret behind the gorgeous color and decoration of rare 18th century mandolins has been revealed. The ornate mandolins, built during a musical golden age in Naples, Italy, were primarily covered with shellac, a common finish that gives off a rich red hue. “For mandolins of unknown origin, our results could represent a new way to identify where they were made and therefore their historic and economic value,” study author Tommaso Rovetta, a researcher at the Università degli Studi di Pavia in Italy, said in a statement. The deep-bowled mandolins, which produce more resonance than flat-backed American versions, first gained popularity in the 1700s.
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