The back in a single piece of maple cut on the half slab of irregular medium-broad curl descending across the back from the treble down towards the bass flank. The ribs of somewhat more pronounced curl. The pegbox and scroll of almost plain maple. The front in two pieces of spruce of medium grain. The varnish of a dark orange-brown on a golden amber ground and in a good state of preservation. Labeled Alphius Messina ab Hadrano Faciebat Catanae A. D. ni 1948 Length of back 356 mm Width upper bout 170 mm Width middle bout 118 mm Width lower bout 208 mm