Violin
Maker
William H. Moennig Jr.
Date1945
Place MadePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North America
Serial No.None
SignedPrinted on paper label with single line border, decorative leaves and scrollwork at each lower corner, and the last two digits of year written in black ink: WILLIAM H. MOENNIG · JR. / PHILADELPHIA · PENNSYLVANIA / U.S.A. · 1945DescriptionBorn in the United States, William H. Moennig II was trained in his father's native Vogtland violin-making tradition in Markneukirchen, Germany, and later studied violin-making in Mittenwald. He made violins in Philadelphia until 1956. The Moennigs operated a prominent violin shop in Philadelphia from around 1909 to 2009. Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain; wood pin through top into top block
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: broad curl descending from center joint
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: broad to narrow curl, angled very slightly to right on bass side, angled very slightly to left on treble side; rib corners chamfered
Head and neck: maple: narrow curl; volutes of scroll very deeply cut; inside of pegbox stained black
Varnish: dark red brown
Fingerboard: ebony
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: ebony; tulip shaped; face inlaid with brass lyre
Tailgut:black plastic; later
Pegs: four ebony
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: ebony with decorative turned rings and bone eye with convex surface
F-holes: lower wings channeled; inside edges stained black
Linings: willow
Corner blocks: willow
Top block: willow
Bottom block: willow
Other: square spruce cleats along back jointDimensionsTotal violin length: 592 mm
Back length: 355 mm
Upper bout width: 164 mm
Center bout width: 111 mm
Lower bout width: 206 mm
Upper rib height: 31-32 mm
Center rib height: 31-32 mm
Lower rib height: 31-32 mm
Stop length: 195 mm
Vibrating string length: 329 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 133 mmProvenancePurchased from Frederick W. Oster Fine Violins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Credit LinePurchase funds gift of Ken Cancelosi, in memory of Robert Cancelosi, 2026
Object number16062
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