Lot number 3156 - Auction
BANJO 'LUDWIG BELLEVUE'

BANJO 'LUDWIG BELLEVUE' Chicago, USA, 1925 Four-string banjo, gilded hardware, mother-of-pearl decorations, walnut, maple wood, with case. L. 83,5, cup diameter 32 cm. Inscribed 'Bellevue Ludwig' on the head, marked 'Ludwig Pat. Pend.' on the rim, numbered '2934'. The Ludwig Drum Company was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1909 by brothers Theobald (1888-1918) and William F. Ludwig (1879-1973). They realized in the early 1920s that banjos were closely related to drums and produced a series of Ludwig banjo models beginning in 1921. However, production ceased again in the early 1930s and Ludwig refocused on its core business of making drums, which is still respected today. This is a 1920 original Ludwig Bellevue banjo from the heyday of the Jazz Age. The Bellevue was at the center of the Chicago company's banjo line and is a sought-after instrument among banjo enthusiasts and collectors for its distinctive sound and quality craftsmanship. This banjo was played by Jürgen Drews, among others. Backs. Body bumped, min. rubbed, ready to play. Provenance: Private collection Düsseldorf.