CHARLES Z FISH'S
PRE-WAR GIBSON
BANJOS
FLORENTINE
Capitalizing on the success of
the Mastertones introduced in
1925, in 1927 Gibson
introduced two super-fancy
models, the Bella Voce and
the Florentine. These were
intended to compete with the
ornate instruments of such
competitors as Paramount.
They have fancy neck and
resonator carvings and other
ornamental features such as
inlaid rhinestones.
This plectrum Florentine, with serial
number 0263-3, was made circa 1927.
Many of the Florentines were
custom made with a variety of
woods, including burl walnut
and curly maple. This
instrument is finished in what
Gibson called "white holly,"
actually white-painted maple.
The peghead and fingerboard are
"pearloid," celluloid with a mother
of pearl appearance. Later, lower
end Gibson models employed a
similar yellowish celluloid, in the
vernacular referred to, tongue in
cheek, as "mother of toilet seat."
Inlaid in the pearloid peghead
veneer of this Florentine are
colorful rhinestones in a shape
often referred to as an ice cream
cone, but intended by Gibson to
represent a bouquet of flowers. The
Gibson logo is written in
rhinestones on the peghead.
The back of the peghead is
elaborately carved and
painted...
...as are the sides of the
peghead.
The hardware is gold plated.
The pearloid fingerboard is
hand painted with Italian
Renaissance motifs,
presumably meant to be
scenes of Florence. They are
actually of Venice.
The Florentine, which sold for
$500.00 in 1927, featured not
only multiple woods but also
multiple binding options and
other appointments. This
instrument has a carved and
painted heel.
There is a celluloid,
"Christmas" binding with
multi-colored, sparkle
marquetry along the sides of
the fingerboard.
The sides of the resonator are carved and painted, and both
edges of the resonator feature fancy binding with sparkle
marquetry. The flange is a two-piece tube-and-plate.
The gold-plated hardware is richly engraved,
including the tension hoop, which is notched, the
tone chamber, and the armrest...
...as well as
the flange...
...and the tailpiece,
on which is
engraved
"Florentine."
The tone chamber is a 40-hole archtop.
There is also
a celluloid
binding with
sparkle
marquetry
along the
bottom edge
of the rim.
There is an elaborately carved and painted
crown-and-crest design on the resonator back,
reportedly the coat of arms of Florence.
In the catalogues Gibson described the Bella Voce and Florentine models as
"supreme conceptions of the hand workers' art." In unrestrained, superlative terms
the catalogue goes on: "As perfect as human hands have as yet conceived a Gibson
Custom Built Banjo ranks with man's greatest achievements. It is the ideal
instrument for the able artist. Hand built, hand carved, hand engraved and hand
decorated by the country's leading craftsmen, it is not only the most beautiful
banjo in all the world, but it is likewise unmatched for brilliancy of performance.
To own a Gibson Custom Built Banjo is to possess the best that can be obtained
anywhere."
Gibson discontinued production
of the Florentine in 1937.
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