When I was researching for The Mandolin - a history, I came across an image of prototype  mandolin made by Vega, in Boston MA, around 1930. Very much in the Art-Deco style, it is all straight lines and angles. Owned by respected guitar collector and writer Lynn Wheelwright, he has kindly sent me photos with rulers and protractors with the idea of making another of these totally over-the-top mandolins. Pics of the finished reproduction here

There are a couple of other forgotten mandolin recreations planned for the next year or so.  A carved  reverse scroll ‘smurf head’ mandolin inspired by a couple of Bacon & Day mandolins of the 1930s, such as this Grand Sultana. 

Another is a Harmony Batwing, often seen as an electric mandolin, but I can see no reason what a good acoustic mandolin could not be made from this design.

Images from The Music Emporium and Charles Johnson’s Vintage Mandolin