Images(2)

Experimental violin

Maker G. H. Moon

Date1897

Place MadeUnited States

ModelPossibly No. 7

Serial No.Possibly No. 7

SignedWritten in black ink on wide, lined paper label with cut corners: G.H.MOON [sic] No."7" [the "o" in superscript] --•1897•-- / [line of text below intentionally scraped off]

Engraved on tailpiece bracket: GHM [monogram] / 1897
DescriptionCornerless violin of unconventional form featuring a top and back that converge without separate sides

Top: two-piece, slab-cut spruce or pine: fine grain
Back: two-piece, slab-cut maple: strong bird's-eye figure; domed ebony insert at button position
Ribs: none; top and back carved in curved shape to join each other at middle of sides
Head and neck: maple: strong bird's-eye figure; head is grafted to neck with butt joint and screwed to neck inside pegbox with domed slot-head screw; there are two spruce inserts on each side of neck at heel position; neck appears to be reshaped; scroll has extra turn and there are prominent ridges to volutes of scroll and pegbox edges
Arching: very high with pronounced recurve
Edging: broad and rounded
Purfling: none
Varnish: dark orange-brown
Fingerboard: ebony with rounded sides and decoratively carved end comprised of scrolls on each side and fluted underside
Nut: ebony; later
Tailpiece: ebony; lower portion with decoratively reeded face; integral saddle comprised of three decoratively raised ridges
Tailgut: red gut
Pegs: four varnished ebony with large brass pins and decoratively turned balls on stem end
Saddle: bird's-eye maple set flush into top and covered with same varnish as violin
Endpin: Ebony with inset A reed tuner stamped "A", set into recessed circular area surrounded by raised ridge
F-holes: inside edges painted black; slightly undercut; steeply pointed wings
Linings: none
Corner blocks: none
Top block: integral with top and back
Bottom block: integral with top and back
Bassbar: long and tall
Chinrest: custom made rosewood chinrest with decoratively engraved silver-plated nickel-silver plate hardware and rosewood bottom clamp with crosshatched, carved texture
Other: original round cleats along top and back center joints

DimensionsTotal violin length: 619 mm
Back length: 374 mm
Upper bout width: 190 mm
Center bout width: 126 mm
Lower bout width: 217 mm
Upper rib height: 34-35 mm
Center rib height: 35-36 mm
Lower rib height: 35-36 mm
Stop length: 191 mm
Vibrating string length: 324 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 112 mm

Credit LineLynn and Steve Dillon Collection, 2021

Object number15586

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