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Violin
Maker: Friedrich August Meisel
Date: 1887
Place Made:Klingenthal, Saxony, Germany, Europe
SignedPrinted on paper label with decorated line at bottom, the last line of text written in black ink: Friedr. Aug. Meisel, / Instrumentenmacher. / Klingenthal i/V 1887
MarkingsBridge stamped: K. L. MEISEL
DescriptionTop: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain, broadening toward the flanks; wooden dowel through top into top block on bass side of center joint
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: narrow curl, descending from center joint
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: narrow curl, on upper and lower bass ribs, upper and center treble ribs; slab-cut maple: medium curl, on center bass rib and lower treble ribs
Head and neck: maple: narrow curl; inside of pegbox stained black
Varnish: medium brown
Fingerboard: ebony
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: ebony; raised gold-plated-brass lyre attached to surface
Tailgut: black plastic
Pegs: ebony with abalone eyes immediately inside white plastic and red gold rings; later
Saddle: ebony; later
Endpin: ebony with abalone eye immediately inside white plastic ring; later
F-holes: slightly undercut
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: spruce lower corner blocks; no upper corner blocks
Bassbar: triangular cross-section
Other: narrow-gauge toothed plane marks visible on inside of ribs
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: narrow curl, descending from center joint
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: narrow curl, on upper and lower bass ribs, upper and center treble ribs; slab-cut maple: medium curl, on center bass rib and lower treble ribs
Head and neck: maple: narrow curl; inside of pegbox stained black
Varnish: medium brown
Fingerboard: ebony
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: ebony; raised gold-plated-brass lyre attached to surface
Tailgut: black plastic
Pegs: ebony with abalone eyes immediately inside white plastic and red gold rings; later
Saddle: ebony; later
Endpin: ebony with abalone eye immediately inside white plastic ring; later
F-holes: slightly undercut
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: spruce lower corner blocks; no upper corner blocks
Bassbar: triangular cross-section
Other: narrow-gauge toothed plane marks visible on inside of ribs
DimensionsTotal violin length: 583 mm
Back length: 352 mm
Upper bout width: 166 mm
Center bout width: 110 mm
Lower bout width: 206 mm
Upper rib height: 30-31 mm
Center rib height: 30-31 mm
Lower rib height: 31 mm
Stop length: 197 mm
Vibrating string length: 325 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 128 mm
Back length: 352 mm
Upper bout width: 166 mm
Center bout width: 110 mm
Lower bout width: 206 mm
Upper rib height: 30-31 mm
Center rib height: 30-31 mm
Lower rib height: 31 mm
Stop length: 197 mm
Vibrating string length: 325 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 128 mm
ProvenanceLothar Meisel (7/10/03) does not remember the provenance of this instrument. It was his father’s idea to assemble the family collection, and Kurt Oswald found most of the instruments.
Terms
Credit Line: Gift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, 1997
Not on view
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. 98-101.
K. Lothar Meisel with Betty Vos. The Meisel Family Violin Makers: Klingenthal, Vogtland, Saxony (Ely, Minnesota: Singing River Publications, Inc., 2007), pp. 98-101.
Object number: 06055