Violin
Makerlabeled
Matteo Bente
Date1630-1700 ca.
Place MadeItaly, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedWritten in in on paper label, largely obliterated – probably not original (pooled glue underneath): Matteo Bente / in Brescia 1671
DescriptionThis violin is missing the original top and is rather crudely made, though it appears quite early.
Top: missing
Back: two-piece, slab-cut maple: very narrow horizontal curl; taken from near crotch of tree; center joint angled to treble side of center; three maple pins through back, two on bass side of center joint and one on treble side; two ebony pins through back into bottom block, one on each side of center joint; later button
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: very narrow curl; one-piece lower rib; incised line from top center joint to endpin
Head: maple: plain; flared volutes
Neck: grafted maple; narrow curl
Arching: rises abruptly from edge
Purfling: very wide; channel cut almost completely through back
Varnish: dark red at edges
Fingerboard: ebony; later, now missing
Linings: none except later, wide spruce linings at joint between top and center ribs
Corner blocks: willow or poplar lower block; small, rough spruce upper block
Top block: spruce; later
Bottom block: spruce; very narrow
DimensionsTotal violin length: 600 mm
Back length: 363 mm
Upper bout width: 164 mm
Center bout width: 121 mm
Lower bout width: 209 mm
Upper rib height: 26-29 mm
Center rib height: 27-30 mm
Lower rib height: 29-30 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 133 mm
ProvenanceAccording to note in Arne B. Larson’s handwriting, obtained in 1945 from Milton.
Arne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number04850
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