Violin
Maker
Ludovico Mariani
Date1692
Place MadePesaro, Italy, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on lined paper label, the date written in black ink: Ludouico Mariani in Peſaro / 1692MarkingsWritten in black ink on inside of back below label: 4835
DescriptionThis disasembled violin has one of the few surviving original Mariani labels. While it has been partially regraduated some of the original heavy gouge marks on the interior of the top are preserved.
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: fine grain; four wood pins through top into top block; two wood pins through top into bottom block
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: prominent, medium curl descending from center joint; three wood pins through back into top block, two wood pins through button into neck heel; two wood pins through back into bottom block; later ebony button cap
Ribs: slab-cut maple: plain; one-piece lower rib
Head: maple: plain; small volute; reeding does not continued to bottom of pegbox, which has flat area with carved line decoration
Neck: maple: prominent, narrow curl; grafted; later
Purfling: two dark-stained hardwood strips with no central light strip
Varnish: small amount of medium orange varnish on back
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: ebony; later
F-holes: narrow, curved wings; undercut
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: spruce
Top block: spruce; later
Bottom block: spruce; later
Other: gouge marks on inside of top
DimensionsTotal violin length: 580 mm
Back length: 359 mm
Upper bout width: 165 mm
Center bout width: 105 mm
Lower bout width: 202 mm
Upper rib height: 28-29 mm
Center rib height: 28-29 mm
Lower rib height: 27-28 mm
Stop length: 192 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 135 mm
ProvenanceCharles Beare, London, purchased the instrument in 1959 and gave it to Jacques Français, New York, New York, who sold it to Laurence Witten in 1972.
Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Published ReferencesGreg Dean Petersen, "Bridge location on the early Italian violin," Early Music 35, No. 1 (February 2007), pp. 49-64.
John Koster, “Museum Collections as Resources for Musical Instrument Makers,” American Lutherie, #42 (Summer 1995), pp. 26-35.
Credit LineWitten-Rawlins Collection, 1984
Object number03422
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