FON 8759-3. All original condition including the pickguard. The pot construction features a two-piece flange and a forty-hole archtop tone ring. The tailpiece is a Grover two-hump clamshell. The neck features a pearloid peghead overlay inlaid with rhinestones in what was meant to be a bouquet of flowers but is commonly referred to by collectors as an “ice cream cone”; the fingerboard is also pearloid and is decorated with hand-painted scenes of Venice. The neck heel, peghead back, and resonator are elaborately carved and painted, and all hardware is gold-plated and heavily engraved. The tuners are the original “Two-band” pegs with genuine mother-of-pearl buttons. „White holly“ finish, which is in fact white – painted maple. The neck, rim and resonator feature the „Checkerboard“ binding which is the only departure from the catalog specifications. Rogers hide head. The Florentine model was introduced in 1927 and had been the most expensive banjo in the Gibson line before the All-American model was added in 1930. It was offered at $450 and only cca 130 banjos were ever produced. Florentines were available in a variety of woods and trim options. This particular instrument was owned by the Austrian immigrant John Augustine who came to USA in the 30´s and lived in the Boston area. He played in the „Brockton Banjo Band“, the logo of the band is still intact on the period case. After his death the banjo remained in the family and was eventually sold to the private collector in Austria in the early 90´s. Since then it hasn´t been played much and thus it remains in fantastic condition. We purchased the banjo in 2022.