3/4-size violin

Alternate name(s)

Child's violin

Date1928

Place MadeKlingenthal, Saxony, Germany, Europe

ModelStradivari ¾ [see celluloid pattern in Meisel workshop collection]

Serial No.10

SignedWritten in black ink on paper label with single-line border: Kŭrt O. Meisel, /
Kŭnstgeigenbaŭmeister, [in Kurrentschrift] / Klingenthal (i/Sa.). / 1928. No 10.
Branded on inside of back above label and on inside of top in front of top and bottom blocks: K.O.MEISEL
MarkingsWritten on cleats on inside of top upper treble bout, from upper rib to center bout:
Rep. / [unknown bei ] [cleat 1]
Lothar / Meisel [cleat 2]
Sohn / von / Kurt / Meisel [cleat 3] /
1959 / in [cleat 4]
Owatonna / Minn. / U.S.A. [cleat 5]
DescriptionTop: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: narrow grain broadening slightly toward the flanks
Back: one-piece, quarter-cut maple: narrow curl descending slightly from treble to bass; scored mark on inside edge of lower back marking center position
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: narrow curl angled to right
Head and neck: maple: narrow curl;
Arching: low
Edging: fully rounded edging
Varnish: medium yellow-brown with craquelure
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: ebony; later
Tailpiece: ebony; raised, red gold lyre on face; later
Tailgut: black plastic; later
Pegs: four ebony with raised, red gold lozenges on ends
Saddle: ebony; later
Endpin: ebony with red gold eye; later
F-holes: chamfered lower wings; undercut
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: spruce
Top block: spruce
Bottom block: spruce
DimensionsTotal violin length: 545 mm
Back length: 332 mm
Upper bout width: 154 mm
Center bout width: 102 mm
Lower bout width: 190 mm
Upper rib height: 28-29 mm
Center rib height: 29 mm
Lower rib height: 29-30 mm
Stop length: 176 mm
Vibrating string length: 196 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 121 mm
ProvenanceThis violin was used by Lothar, his children, and his grandchildren when they learned to play the violin.

Credit LineGift of Lothar Meisel, 2010

Object number14524

On View

Not on view