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Violin
Maker: Girolamo Amati
Date: 1604
Place Made:Cremona, Italy, Europe
Serial No: none
SignedPrinted on paper label, the year written in black ink: Hieronymus Amatus Cremoneñ. / Andreæ fil. F. 1604
DescriptionThis disassembled Girolamo Amati violin contains a rare label listing only his own name, rather than in combination with his brother Antonio, from whom he separated in 1588.
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: fine grain; wood pin through top into top block on treble side of center joint; three wood pins through top into bottom block
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: medium grain ascending from treble to bass; wood pins through back into top and bottom blocks on joint; two wood pins through button into neck heel
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: faint, narrow curl angled to left; one-piece lower rib
Varnish: light gold
F-holes: rounded wings and notch corners
Linings: poplar, willow, or related wood
Corner blocks: poplar, willow, or related wood
Bottom block: poplar, willow, or related wood; later
Bassbar: removed
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: fine grain; wood pin through top into top block on treble side of center joint; three wood pins through top into bottom block
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: medium grain ascending from treble to bass; wood pins through back into top and bottom blocks on joint; two wood pins through button into neck heel
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: faint, narrow curl angled to left; one-piece lower rib
Varnish: light gold
F-holes: rounded wings and notch corners
Linings: poplar, willow, or related wood
Corner blocks: poplar, willow, or related wood
Bottom block: poplar, willow, or related wood; later
Bassbar: removed
DimensionsBack length: 343 mm
Upper bout width: 159 mm
Center bout width: 107 mm
Lower bout width: 197 mm
Upper rib height: 25-27 mm
Center rib height: 26-28 mm
Lower rib height: 26-28 mm
Stop length: 193 mm
Upper bout width: 159 mm
Center bout width: 107 mm
Lower bout width: 197 mm
Upper rib height: 25-27 mm
Center rib height: 26-28 mm
Lower rib height: 26-28 mm
Stop length: 193 mm
ProvenanceLaurence Witten acquired the violin from the estate of E. M. W. Paul, London, through J. & A. Beare, London, 1968.
Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Terms
Credit Line: Witten-Rawlins Collection, 1984
Not on view
Published ReferencesMargaret Downie Banks, “The Witten-Rawlins Collection & Other Early Italian Stringed Instruments at the Shrine to Music Museum,” Journal of the Violin Society of America Vol. VIII, No. 3 (1987), pp. 32 (photo), 33.
Greg Dean Petersen, "Bridge location on the early Italian violin," Early Music 35, No. 1 (February 2007), pp. 49-64.
Greg Dean Petersen, "Bridge location on the early Italian violin," Early Music 35, No. 1 (February 2007), pp. 49-64.
Object number: 03423