Violin
Date1650-1700 ca.
Place MadeGermany
MarkingsBranded on bridge toward fingerboard: DAVID RIVINUSDescriptionThis violin is a rare German 17th century decorated instrument representing the sorts of models that pre-dated the wide-spread influence of Jacob Stainer in the region by the 18th century. Little is known about the makers and working styles of the period and many such instruments were later attributed to Italian makers in the Brescian style. The NMM is fortune to have six decorated continental European violins that fall into this time period.
Top: one-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain; two wood pins though top into bottom block far from center line; large pin through top into top block
Back: one-piece, slab-cut maple: very faint, narrow curl; wood pin through back into bottom block under inlaid purfling decoration
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: very faint, narrow curl; one-piece lower rib; large beech patch in lower treble rib
Head: maple: plain
Neck: maple: faint, medium curl; grafted, later
Arching: full
Purfling: double
Decoration: extensive purfling decorative inlay at bouts of top and back, on top under bow position, and along center line of back
Varnish: dark brown
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: ebony; later
Tailpiece: ebony; bevelled face; later
Tailgut: black plastic
Pegs: four ebony; later
Saddle: ebony; later
Endpin: decoratively turned ebony; later
F-holes: very narrow wings; slightly undercut
Linings: spruce; some later
Corner blocks: spruce; some later
Top block: spruce; later
Bottom block: spruce; later
Bassbar: three-part spruce-hardwood-spruce laminated; by David Rivinus
DimensionsTotal violin length: 570 mm
Back length: 347 mm
Upper bout width: 152 mm
Center bout width: 110 mm
Lower bout width: 186 mm
Upper rib height: 25-26 mm
Center rib height: 26 mm
Lower rib height: 25-27 mm
Stop length: 189 mm
Vibrating string length: 319 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 129 mm
ProvenanceGift of David Lloyd Rivinus, 2018
Credit LineGift of David Lloyd Rivinus, 2018
Object number15071
On View
Not on view
1650-1700 ca.
