Violaline 1901 Georges Contal The violaline is a four double-course mandolin with a violin or viola damore shaped body. The arched top and back of the violin family of instruments is a very sturdy instrument design and helps to project the sound of the mandolin. This design was created by Georges Contal around 1900 in Paris. Similarly, Orville Gibson, working in the 1890s in Kalamazoo, Michigan, based the design of his mandolins and guitars on violin construction techniques. This example has the form of a viola damore, with a carved figural head, and without the pointed corners of a violin body.. Violaline. French. 1901. Spruce, maple, ebony, metal. Paris, France. Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted