Violin
Maker
Karl Oswald Meisel
Date1927
Place MadeKlingenthal, Saxony, Germany, Europe
SignedPrinted on paper label with cut corners, the year written in black ink: 1927 [photograph of the maker in his studio] / KARL OSWALD MEISEL / KUNSTGEIGENBAUER, KLINGENTHAL i/VBranded on inside of back above label, in cursive: K. O. Meisel [tail of “l” underlines surname]
Branded on insides of back and top below top block and above bottom block: K. O. MEISEL
MarkingsBranded on bridge, toward fingerboard: K.L. MEISEL
Branded on bridge, toward tailpiece: OWATONNA/MINN.
DescriptionKarl Oswald Meisel (1878-1935)
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: fine grain; from Schwarzberg in the Vogtland, according to Lothar Meisel (7/7/03)
Back: one-piece maple cut slightly off-the-quarter: broad curl ascending slightly from treble to bass; deep notches at button; from the Carpathian Mountains, according to Lothar Meisel (7/7/03)
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: broad curl; rib corners slightly chamfered
Head and neck: maple: medium curl; inside of pegbox stained dark red-brown
Edging: full, rounded edges
Varnish: light golden
Fingerboard: ebony
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: ebony; black-stained pearwood saddle; raised gold-plated-brass lyre attached to surface; later
Tailgut: transparent purple plastic; later
Pegs: four rosewood with ivory pins; undercut heads; later, fitted by Lothar Meisel, made by Emil Lorenz, Bubenreuth, originally from Schönbach
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: rosewood with ivory pin; later, fitted by Lothar Meisel, made by Emil Lorenz, Bubenreuth, originally from Schönbach
F-holes: lower wings channeled; inside edges stained dark red-brown
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: spruce
DimensionsTotal violin length: 596 mm
Back length: 360 mm
Upper bout width: 170 mm
Center bout width: 110 mm
Lower bout width: 210 mm
Upper rib height: 29-30 mm
Center rib height: 30 mm
Lower rib height: 30-31 mm
Stop length: 197 mm
Vibrating string length: 332 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 135 mm
ProvenanceKurt Oswald Meisel used to teach violin performance at the Trade and Music School in Klingenthal using this instrument. (According to Lothar Meisel, 7/7/03)
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. 130-133.
Credit LineGift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, 1998
Object number06144
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