Violin
Maker
Herman Macklett
Date1881
Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America
ModelGuarneri
Serial No.None
SignedPrinted on brown paper label with chain-link border, the last digit of year and period written in black ink: Herman Macklett. / Chicago, 1881 . DescriptionThis violin was made by the first member of the Becker family to enter the violin-making profession. Herman Macklett was the grandfather of Carl G. Becker, who never met his grandfather. The violin was kept in the family and played by the Beckers prior to its acquisition for the NMM.Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: narrow grain broadening at the edges
Back: two-piece, semi-slab-cut maple: prominent, wide, irregular horizontal curl
Ribs: semi-slab-cut maple: prominent, wide, irregular curl
Head and neck: maple: medium curl; inside of pegbox varnished
Varnish: dark, warm brown
Fingerboard: ebony; possibly later
Nut: ebony; possibly later
Tailpiece: ebony; beveled face; later
Tailgut: black plastic; later
Pegs: four ebony Hill-style with convex faces and undercut heads, brass rings, and brass pin
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: ebony with decoratively turned rings and brass pin; later
F-holes: steeply angled wings; lower wings channeled; inside edges stained black
Linings: hardwood with small visible rays, possibly poplar or willow
Corner blocks: steeply angled wings
Top block: spruce
Bottom block: spruceDimensionsTotal violin length: 595 mm
Back length: 359 mm
Upper bout width: 168 mm
Center bout width: 109 mm
Lower bout width: 206 mm
Upper rib height: 29-31 mm
Center rib height: 20-31 mm
Lower rib height: 31-32 mm
Stop length: 193 mm
Vibrating string length: 326 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 132 mmProvenanceNo known provenance.
Credit LineGift of Ken Cancelosi, in memory of Robert Cancelosi, 2025
Object number16052
On View
Not on view
1625-1630 ca.
