Violin
Maker
Friedrich Wilhelm Meisel
Date1772
Place MadeQuittenbach, Saxony, Germany, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label, the last digit of year written in black ink: Friedrich Wilhelm Meiſel, / musſ icaliſcher Inſtrumentenmacher / in Quittenbach Ao. 1772.MarkingsBranded on bridge toward fingerboard: K.L.MEISEL
DescriptionThis instrument by Friedrich Wilhelm Meisel has somewhat protruding corners, sometimes seen in the Vogtland school, who built their instruments freehand rather than on an internal or external mold.
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain; small dowel hole through top into top block on bass side of center joint; rectangular spruce cleats along inside of center joint
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: prominent, broad curl descending from center joint; rectangular maple cleats along inside of center joint; later ebony crown over top edge of back button
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: prominent, broad curl, angled to right on upper bass and lower treble bouts, angled to left on lower bass and upper treble bouts, not angled at center bouts
Head: maple: narrow curl; inside of pegbox stained black at a later date
Neck: maple: medium curl; grafted
Arching: full
Edging: large, broad corners
Varnish: light golden orange
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; extends slightly into ribs
Endpin: rosewood with two decorative, turned grooves
F-holes: curved, tapered wings
Linings: spruce; narrow
Corner blocks: spruce
Top block: spruce; later
Bottom block: spruce; small; very narrow
Bassbar: later
Other: saw marks visible on inside of ribs
DimensionsBack length: 358 mm
Upper bout width: 163 mm
Center bout width: 110 mm
Lower bout width: 205 mm
Upper rib height: 30-31 mm
Center rib height: 31-32 mm
Lower rib height: 31-32 mm
Total violin length: 589 mm
Stop length: 192 mm
Vibrating string length: 326 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 134 mm
ProvenancePurchased by Lothar Meisel from an owner in Canada.
Gift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, Owatonna, Minnesota, 1997.
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. 68-71.
Credit LineGift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, 1997
Object number06053
On View
On view
