Images(20)

Violin

Maker Johann Gottlob Ficker

Date1810

Place MadeMarkneukirchen, Saxony, Germany, Europe

ModelStainer

Serial No.none

SignedPrinted on paper label with cut corners, the year, period after the year, and comma after “Vilino” written in black ink: Iohann Gottlob Ficker, Vilino, / Correſpontent Romani Cremona, 1810.
Branded on inside of back between label and rib: J:G:F
MarkingsBranded on inside of pegbox at back and on end of neck: [cross over heart]
Branded on top near saddle, over varnish: [cross over heart]
Illegible pencil mark on back of inside of pegbox between D and G pegs.
DescriptionJohann Gottlob Ficker was one of the best-known makers of the Vogtland tradition of violin making in Upper Saxony. The Vogtland was a major center for German instrument production beginning in the 17th century. This violin is of a particularly fine level of craftsmanship and features decoratively inlaid ivory trim around the edges and scroll. The ivory medallion inlaid into the back is a crest of Markneukirchen, where it was made. The instrument is preserved with its original neck, pegs, and fingerboard, in almost unused condition. It is a Stainer model, as was popular in the early 19th century. The label used by Ficker features Latin-esque words that actually did not have any meaning in Latin!

NMM 10,735 was most recently in the private archive of Bernhard Zoebisch, an independent Markneukirchen scholar who spent his life researching Vogtland violin makers. This violin is featured in the first volume of the work, and is documented as having belonged to Willy Enders and repaired by Paul Knorr, the 20th century Markneukirchen violin maker.

Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: fine grain; no notch in upper edge; large wooden pin through top into top block on bass side of center joint; large wooden pin through top into bottom block on bass side of center joint
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: narrow curl ascending from treble to bass; ivory button with etched and black-ink-filled branches and leaves of grass; edging shape continues under button; circular ivory plaque inlaid in back below button, with etched and black-ink-filled decoration comprised of two branches enclosing a circle topped with a crown and cross, indecipherable etching inside circle, with compass mark at center
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: prominent, narrow curl; one-piece lower rib; rectangular ebony insert between endpin and saddle; incised lines under varnish delineating wider insert not installed
Head and neck: maple: narrow curl; edges and center line of scroll inlaid with ivory strips; carved ivory scroll ears with separate ivory eyes set in black mastic; concave neck heel sides; inside of pegbox not varnished
Arching: full and high with deep recurve
Edging: edges capped with ivory strips and a separate ivory piece at each corner; rises abruptly from edge, forming ridge
Purfling: continues under fingerboard; depressed center strip; narrow outer strips
Varnish: dark red-brown spirit varnish with fine craquelure at chin position; ivory plaque covered before application of varnish, leaving thin line of varnish missing after removal of covering
Fingerboard: spruce veneered with ebony; wedge-shaped; notches carved from surface of edge veneer at neck heel position; underside thinned at lower end, creating U-shape; underside stained black
Nut: bone; incised lines on surface toward pegbox marking string positions, with three scallops between lines
Tailpiece: ebony; later
Tailgut: red gut; later
Pegs: ebony with ivory oblate pins on the ends; concave, undercut heads; two rings
Saddle: ivory; dovetail-shaped ebony insert in top in front of saddle
Endpin: ebony with ivory oblate pin
F-holes: steeply tapered and curved wings
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: spruce
Top block: integral with neck; rounded end, shaped like spruce bottom block; spruce shims between top block and ribs
Bottom block: spruce; small
Bassbar: low height
Other: file marks on inside of pegbox and on bass side of fingerboard
DimensionsTotal violin length: 589 mm
Back length: 357 mm
Upper bout width: 165 mm
Center bout width: 103 mm
Lower bout width: 206 mm
Upper rib height: 30-31 mm
Center rib height: 30-31 mm
Lower rib height: 30-31 mm
Stop length: 194 mm
Vibrating string length: 326 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 131 mm
Length of bridge position to lower edge: 165 mm

Published ReferencesBernhard Zoebisch, Vogtländischer Geigenbau: Biographien und Erklärungen bis 1850, (Markneukirchen: Verein der Freunde und F"rderer des Musikinstrumenten-Museums Markneukirchen, 2000), pp. 115, Abb.1, 358-359.

Arian Sheets, "A Beautifully Preserved Violin from das Vogtland Joins the Museum’s Collections," National Music Museum Newsletter 31, No. 3 (August 2004), pp. 4-5.

Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Kay Marcum Larson, 2004

Object number10735

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