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Violin
Maker: Kurt Lothar Meisel
Date: 1992
Place Made:Owatonna, Minnesota, United States, North America
Model: Stradivari
Serial No: KQR
SignedPrinted in brown ink on paper label with lined texture, the model name, location, year, and “KQR” written in black ink, the signature in blue ink: KQR / [bird on branch] Lothar Meisel [signature] SINCE / 1660 / K. LOTHAR MEISEL / 9th GENERATION VIOLIN MAKER [KLM monogram over lyre] / OWATONNA MINNESOTA 1992
Written in black ink on paper label with cut corners visible through treble soundhole: IN FOREVER LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAREST / MOTHER – HELENE MEISEL - / * JAN.23.1906, KLINGENTHAL/VOGTL. (SAXONY-GERMANY) / † JUNE 4.1992
Signed in pencil on inside of top and back, upper treble bout: Lothar Meisel / 5 - 1991 / KQR
Signed in black ink on inside of back in front of top block: Zur ewigen Erinnerung und Liebe an meine unvergessliche / Mutter Helene Meisel. / geboren am 23.Jan.1906 in Sachsenberg (Klingenthal) / VOGTL. (SACHSEN). / gestorben am 4.Juni 1992 in Owatonna, Minnesota U.S.A.
Written in pencil on inside of back, upper bouts: Lothar Meisel / July 10th, 1992. / KQR
Branded on inside of back, visible through treble f-hole and along bassbar toward center joint: [large typeface] K.L.MEISEL OWATONNA/MINN.
Branded in front of top block on inside of back to bass side of center joint and on inside of top to treble side of center joint: [large typeface] K.L.MEISEL
Branded in front of top block on inside of back to treble side of center joint and on inside of back to bass side of center joint: OWATONNA/MINN.
Branded in front of bottom block on inside of back to treble side of center joint and on inside of top to bass side of center joint: [large typeface] K.L.MEISEL
Branded in front of bottom block on inside of back to bass side of center joint and on inside of top to treble side of center joint: OWATONNA/MINN.
Branded on base of neck heel, under fingerboard: K.L.MEISEL
Branded on bridge, toward fingerboard: K.L.MEISEL
Written in pencil ink on inside of back in front of lower bass corner block: KQR
Written in black ink on paper label with cut corners visible through treble soundhole: IN FOREVER LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAREST / MOTHER – HELENE MEISEL - / * JAN.23.1906, KLINGENTHAL/VOGTL. (SAXONY-GERMANY) / † JUNE 4.1992
Signed in pencil on inside of top and back, upper treble bout: Lothar Meisel / 5 - 1991 / KQR
Signed in black ink on inside of back in front of top block: Zur ewigen Erinnerung und Liebe an meine unvergessliche / Mutter Helene Meisel. / geboren am 23.Jan.1906 in Sachsenberg (Klingenthal) / VOGTL. (SACHSEN). / gestorben am 4.Juni 1992 in Owatonna, Minnesota U.S.A.
Written in pencil on inside of back, upper bouts: Lothar Meisel / July 10th, 1992. / KQR
Branded on inside of back, visible through treble f-hole and along bassbar toward center joint: [large typeface] K.L.MEISEL OWATONNA/MINN.
Branded in front of top block on inside of back to bass side of center joint and on inside of top to treble side of center joint: [large typeface] K.L.MEISEL
Branded in front of top block on inside of back to treble side of center joint and on inside of back to bass side of center joint: OWATONNA/MINN.
Branded in front of bottom block on inside of back to treble side of center joint and on inside of top to bass side of center joint: [large typeface] K.L.MEISEL
Branded in front of bottom block on inside of back to bass side of center joint and on inside of top to treble side of center joint: OWATONNA/MINN.
Branded on base of neck heel, under fingerboard: K.L.MEISEL
Branded on bridge, toward fingerboard: K.L.MEISEL
Written in pencil ink on inside of back in front of lower bass corner block: KQR
MarkingsBranded on lower bout over varnish, above endpin: S [for Steve]
DescriptionTop: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: fine grain broadening toward the flanks
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: prominent medium curl descending steeply from center joint; small maple pin through back into top block; small maple pin through back into bottom block
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: prominent medium curl angled to right on bass side, angled to left on treble side; lower ribs divided by maple strip surrounded on each side by purfling strips; rib corners chamfered
Head and neck: maple: medium curl; inside of pegbox stained dark brown
Varnish: medium red-orange; slightly shaded
Fingerboard: ebony
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: rosewood with beveled face; ivory saddle
Tailgut: black plastic
Pegs: four rosewood with ivory pins; undercut heads
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: rosewood with ivory pin
F-holes: lower wings channeled; inside edges stained dark brown
Linings: basswood
Corner blocks: basswood
Top block: spruce
Bottom block: basswood
Bassbar: spruce
Other: inside of body stained light brown
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: prominent medium curl descending steeply from center joint; small maple pin through back into top block; small maple pin through back into bottom block
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: prominent medium curl angled to right on bass side, angled to left on treble side; lower ribs divided by maple strip surrounded on each side by purfling strips; rib corners chamfered
Head and neck: maple: medium curl; inside of pegbox stained dark brown
Varnish: medium red-orange; slightly shaded
Fingerboard: ebony
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: rosewood with beveled face; ivory saddle
Tailgut: black plastic
Pegs: four rosewood with ivory pins; undercut heads
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: rosewood with ivory pin
F-holes: lower wings channeled; inside edges stained dark brown
Linings: basswood
Corner blocks: basswood
Top block: spruce
Bottom block: basswood
Bassbar: spruce
Other: inside of body stained light brown
DimensionsTotal violin length: 588 mm
Back length: 355 mm
Upper bout width: 168 mm
Center bout width: 109 mm
Lower bout width: 205 mm
Upper rib height: 30-31 mm
Center rib height: 30-31 mm
Lower rib height: 31-32 mm
Stop length: 195 mm
Vibrating string length: 329 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 133 mm
Back length: 355 mm
Upper bout width: 168 mm
Center bout width: 109 mm
Lower bout width: 205 mm
Upper rib height: 30-31 mm
Center rib height: 30-31 mm
Lower rib height: 31-32 mm
Stop length: 195 mm
Vibrating string length: 329 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 133 mm
ProvenanceMade with old family wood in honor of Lothar’s father, Kurt Meisel. See also NMM 15523 made in honor of Lothar’s father. Lothar’s father was able to see his completed violin, but his mother did not live to see her’s. Both instruments were played at the graves of Lothar’s parent in conjunction with a German wine toast in their honor by Arnold Kruger, director of the Owatonna high school string program and friend of the Meisels.
Terms
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Meisel, 2010
Not on view
Object number: 14522