Violute
Alternate name(s)
- Violin
Date1928-1940 ca.
Place MadeCanajoharie, New York, United States, North America
Place MadeMarkneukirchen, Saxony, Germany, Europe
ModelViolute
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label with double-line border, the outer line bold: Made in GermanyMarkingsShort pencil line on inside of top below top block indicating center position
DescriptionExperimental violin with pear-shaped body. The inventor believed that the air inside the instrument would vibrate as a single column when played, rather than the two air columns of the standard violin body. George D. Hambrecht was awarded U. S. Patent No. 1,773,674 on August 19, 1930 for a patent application filed on February 9, 1928.
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain
Back: one-piece maple, cut slightly off-the-quarter: narrow curl descending from treble to bass; notch on inside lower edge at endpin indicating center position
Ribs: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: narrow curl, angled slightly to right
Head and neck: maple: narrow curl; inside of pegbox stained dark red-brown
Arching: full arching inside purfling
Purfling: wide center strip
Varnish: light brown with craquelure; some chipping and flaking; antiquing comprised of subtle blacking over entire surface
Fingerboard: ebony
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: varnished ebony; tulip-shaped; rounded lower end
Tailgut: black gut
Pegs: four ebony; short heads; inside edge of head nearly flat
Saddle: ebony; set into top
Endpin: ebony
F-holes: small; short; narrow, tapered, and pointed wings; inside edges stained dark red-brown
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: none
Top block: not curved; extends to rib edges
DimensionsTotal violute length: 601 mm
Back length: 366 mm
Upper bout width: 50 mm
Center bout width: 115 mm
Lower bout width: 241 mm
Upper rib height: 28-30 mm
Center rib height: 29-30 mm
Lower rib height: 30-33 mm
Stop length: 196 mm
Vibrating string length: 327 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 131 mm
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Published ReferencesJeff Nelson. “Dakota Man’s Hobby Builds Top Collection in Americas,” The Sioux City Sunday Journal, (October 9, 1966), Section C. Shows Arne B. Larson holding NMM 2522 in lecture hall with table of other demonstration instruments.
Shrine to Music Series, narrated by Arne B. Larson. PBS. KUSD-TV, Vermillion, South Dakota, Summer 1969
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number02522
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