Violin
Date1780-1820 ca.
Place MadeMirecourt, France, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedBranded on back, below button: Grand gerard.MarkingsAdhesive tag on bottom rib: WISE / Pd / $125. / 00
DescriptionInexpensive instruments for the violin trade were made in Mirecourt since at least the seventeenth century. This example by Jean-Baptiste Grand-Gérard is in original condition and preserves a number of interesting features. The top and edges of the back are blackened using soot from the flame of a candle or lamp to imitate the dirt accumulation that comes with age, an extremely early attempt at antiquing a musical instrument. The bassbar was carved from the same wood as the top, a construction characteristic found in early Northern European violin-family instruments.
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: fine grain broadening to wide at the edges; large maple pin through top into bottom block on bass side of center joint; originally set into neck heel with no notch
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: plain; large maple pin through back into top block on treble side of center joint; large maple pin through back into bottom block on bass side of center joint; large maple dowel through button into neck heel
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: plain; one-piece lower rib
Head and neck: maple: faint, narrow curl; steeply angled back
Varnish: light orange; candle blacking applied below varnish at center of top and back to imitate aging
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: ebony; later
Pegs: four rosewood; later
Saddle: missing
Endpin: missing
F-holes: flared lower wings; undercut
Linings: spruce
Corner blocks: willow or poplar
Top block: willow or poplar; narrow; two nails through block into neck heel, now removed, one iron screw through block into neck heel
Bottom block: willow or poplar; narrow
Bassbar: triangular profile; low height; shortened later
DimensionsTotal violin length: 587 mm
Back length: 364 mm
Upper bout width: 170 mm
Center bout width: 113 mm
Lower bout width: 207 mm
Upper rib height: 31-34 mm
Center rib height: 32-34 mm
Lower rib height: 33-34 mm
Stop length: 193 mm
Vibrating string length: 324 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 130 mm
ProvenanceGift of Raymond Wise, San Diego, California, 1993.
Credit LineGift of Raymond Wise, 1993
Object number05587
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