Violin
Maker
Giuseppe Pellacani
Date1962
Place MadeModena, Italy, Europe
Serial No.80
SignedPrinted on paper label with single line border, the last two digits of year, “op. N˙ 80”, “26-2-62” and “Johnn GLENN” written in black ink: op. N˙ 80 / Giuseppe Pellacani / da MEDOLLA (Modena) / fece anno 1962 / Johnn [sic] GLENN / 26-2-62Branded on inside of back under bass f-hole to be viewed from treble f-hole, under treble f-hole, two times on inside of top along center joint in center bouts, on top block at joint with top, and on bottom block at joint with top, the last two letters burned together on each brand: G.PELLACANI
MarkingsD’Attili certificate label visible through treble f-hole, written with black ink on small paper: DDA 2299 / 110
Branded on bridge toward fingerboard: K.L.MEISEL
DescriptionCertificate of authenticity signed by the maker on February 15, 1964 on his own letterhead is in the file. This certificate includes detailed information about the varnish and mentions a patented bridge, no longer with the instrument.
Pellacani was evidently fascinated by the achievements of John Glenn at the time NMM 10,800 was made. Glenn was the first American astronaut to orbit the earth, which he did three times on February 20, 1962 aboard the Friendship 7, as the third American to travel in space. Glenn ran into technical difficulties on the February 1962 mission, with Glenn assuming manual control of the unit when it spun out of control after its first orbit and with a frightening heat shield failure immediately prior to reentry. Glenn’s risky return was successful and garnered him the title of national hero as well as a parade in New York City on March 1st. On February 26, the date that Pellacani inscribed on his violin label, it was “John Glenn Day” in Washington, D. C., when Glenn rode before hundreds of thousands of fans on the streets of the city and addressed Congress. Pellacani was likely aware of the celebrations through extensive media coverage of the event.
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain; wavy grain on upper bass bout
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: narrow curl descending from center joint; maple dowel through back into top block through center joint; maple dowel through back into bottom block through center joint
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: narrow curl angled to right on upper bass and center and lower treble bouts, angled to left on center and lower bass bouts and upper treble bout; rib corners rounded
Head and neck: maple: narrow curl; inside of pegbox stained black; peg holes rebushed
Arching: high and full
Purfling: wide
Varnish: medium orange
Fingerboard: ebony; possibly later
Nut: ebony; concave upper side
Tailpiece: rosewood with ivory saddle; beveled face; probably later, installed by Meisel
Tailgut: black plastic; later
Pegs: rosewood with undercut heads and ivory pins; later, installed by Meisel
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: rosewood; probably later, installed by Meisel
F-holes: large eyes; lower wings channeled; undercut; inside edges stained dark red-brown
Linings: willow; thick
Corner blocks: spruce
Top block: spruce
Bottom block: spruce
Bassbar: tall
Other: maple cleats along inside of back joint; spruce cleats along inside of top joint
DimensionsTotal violin length: 586 mm
Back length: 356 mm
Upper bout width: 169 mm
Center bout width: 109 mm
Lower bout width: 206 mm
Upper rib height: 28-30 mm
Center rib height: 29-31 mm
Lower rib height: 30-32 mm
Stop length: 196 mm
Vibrating string length: 327 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 132 mm
Credit LineGift of Lothar Meisel, 2004
Object number10800
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