Violin
Maker
Girolamo Amati
Date1604
Place MadeCremona, Italy, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label, the year written in black ink: Hieronymus Amatus Cremoneñ. / Andreæ fil. F. 1604DescriptionThis 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
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
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.
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.
Credit LineWitten-Rawlins Collection, 1984
Object number03423
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