Violin
Maker
Johann Georg Meisel
Date1785
Place MadeKlingenthal, Saxony, Germany, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label, the year written in black ink: Johann Georg Meiſel / Violinmacher in Klingenthal / 1785MarkingsPrinted on scroll-shaped paper label in brown ink, the certificate number written in black ink: OSKAR ERICH HEINEL / [illustration of wax seal containing a shield with a violin above a bar sinister, the initials “O. E. / H.” under the bar sinister, the shield topped with a knight’s helmet] MARKNEUKIRCHEN / Expertise No. 1336
Scratched on back, nearly polished out: [illeg.] Ferdinand / [illeg.]
Stamped on lower rib, between back and endpin, each digit a separate die: 1896
Branded on bridge toward tailpiece: K.L.MEISEL
Branded on bridge toward fingerboard: OWATONNA/MINN.
DescriptionThis instrument was made by a cousin of the family of Kurt Lothar Meisel, the donor.
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain; large wooden dowel through top into top block on bass side of center joint; large wooden dowel through top into bottom block on bass side of center joint
Back: one-piece, quarter-cut maple: large, strongly visible ray flecks; notch on inside lower edge at center position; hole in lower edge filled with maple dowel, under original varnish; later crescent-shaped ebony cap over top edge of button
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: prominent, medium to wide curl, angled to right on bass lower bout, angled to left on bass treble bout
Head: maple: strongly visible ray flecks
Neck: maple: narrow curl; grafted
Arching: full at center bouts
Purfling: forms decorative point on back extending into button
Varnish: dark red-brown
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: ebony; later
Tailpiece: ebony; decoratively molded upper edge without saddle; decorative grooves carved on face at lower end; copper lyre inlaid in face; later
Tailgut: black plastic
Pegs: four rosewood with ebony pins; convex, undercut heads; by Emil Lorenz, Bubenreuth, originally from Schönbach
Saddle: ebony; later
Endpin: ebony; tuned groove around edge; later
F-holes: curved and tapered wings
Linings: spruce; narrow; rounded; some later, higher linings
Corner blocks: spruce; later
Top block: spruce; later
Bottom block: spruce; later
Bassbar: later
Other: saw marks visible on outside of center ribs
DimensionsBack length: 357 mm
Upper bout width: 166 mm
Center bout width: 112 mm
Lower bout width: 211 mm
Upper rib height: 27-29 mm
Center rib height: 27-29 mm
Lower rib height: 27-30 mm
Total violin length: 593 mm
Stop length: 199 mm
Vibrating string length: 332 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 133 mm
ProvenanceGift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, Owatonna, Minnesota, 1997.
Lothar Meisel does not remember the provenance of NMM 6052. It was Kurt Meisel’s idea to assemble a family collection, and he found the instruments. (Interview, July 7, 2003)
Published ReferencesProd. Julie Kucaj. “Lothar Meisel,” Arts & Minds. Bravo! News Style Arts Channel, Toronto, 30-31 Jan. 2003
K. Lothar Meisel with Betty Vos. The Meisel Family Violin Makers: Klingenthal, Vogtland, Saxony (Ely, Minnesota: Singing River Publications, Inc., 2007), pp. 54-57.
Credit LineGift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, 1997
Object number06052
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