Name of Instrument: "papeha"

Maker / Brand: (through Franciolini)

Stearns Catalog #: 1074

Country of Origin:

Region of Origin:

Instrument Category: Chordophone

Date of Fabrication: 19th C.

Location: CHO J 3

Description: This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. In this case, we have an instrument that appears to be made by the same maker as Stearns #1073. We can only surmise that it passed through Franciolini’s hands because it has not been identified in any of his extant catalogues. The arrangement of strings suggests that of the mandolin (eight strings in four courses). The extremely shallow body depth—only three centimeters—greatly limits the resonating volume. There is no knowledge regarding how the 1921 Stearns Catalog came to refer to this instrument as a “Papeha” (uniquely creative nomenclature that has no other usage: hapax legomenon). The table is made of spruce and in form has severely sloping shoulders to the upper bouts, a waist, and wide lower bouts (no corners). The sides and back are of leather-covered wood with gold designs. The separate mahogany neck has an ebony fingerboard with ivory inlay. It has an ivory nut and eight gut frets tied to it. The peg board is veneered with ivory and ebony to match the fingerboard; there are eight boxwood pegs entering from the back to the front. It has a flat, prism-shaped ebony bridge and four wire hooks in the lower side.

Research: Dr. Bruce Mitchell Smith and Stearns Staff