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Octavo violin
Alternate name:Viola
Alternate name:Octave violin
Maker: Oliver Jennings
Date: 1910
Place Made:Mt. Sterling, Illinois, United States, North America
Model: octavo violin (experimental model tuned one octave below violin)
Serial No: none
SignedTyped on large paper label, the signature in very faded black ink: Hand Made Octava / by Ollie Jennings Mt. Sterling Ill. / Price $65.oo - - - - - 1910 / The Idea of Prof. Rankendorf to / take the place of the 2’nd Viol. / is 1 octive [sic] lower than the violin / just 6 made. Attest _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / Frank Bauer [signature]
MarkingsScratched on ebony band dividing lower ribs: Frank / Bauer
Written in pencil on lower bass rib, near ebony band: No-77 / FB
Branded on bridge toward tailpiece: ∙JOHN JUZEK∙ / form / PRAGUE [in oval]
Written in pencil on lower bass rib, near ebony band: No-77 / FB
Branded on bridge toward tailpiece: ∙JOHN JUZEK∙ / form / PRAGUE [in oval]
DescriptionExperimental bowed string instrument tuned one octave below the violin, with wide upper and lower bouts and corners without a reverse curve
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain
Back: one-piece, slab-cut maple: plain; edge shape continues over button; concave button with protruding upper edge; ebony cap over top edge of button
Ribs: semi-slab-cut maple: plain; upper and lower ribs overlap center ribs at corners; lower ribs divided by 19 mm wide ebony band
Head and neck: maple: medium curl; pegbox with shoulders
Arching: full; minimally re-curved
Edging: prominent edges on back
Purfling: thin outer strips
Varnish: medium brown with craquelure
Fingerboard: dark brown hardwood with open pores
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: ebony
Tailgut: red gut
Pegs: four brown wood with varied color; bone eyes
Saddle: ebony; large
Endpin: black-varnished hardwood
F-holes: placed low on top; flared and pointed wings; large notches; notch corners rounded
Linings: open-pored hardwood
Corner blocks: unknown wood
Top block: spruce
Bottom block: spruce
Bassbar: rounded edges
Other: inside of body stained brown
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain
Back: one-piece, slab-cut maple: plain; edge shape continues over button; concave button with protruding upper edge; ebony cap over top edge of button
Ribs: semi-slab-cut maple: plain; upper and lower ribs overlap center ribs at corners; lower ribs divided by 19 mm wide ebony band
Head and neck: maple: medium curl; pegbox with shoulders
Arching: full; minimally re-curved
Edging: prominent edges on back
Purfling: thin outer strips
Varnish: medium brown with craquelure
Fingerboard: dark brown hardwood with open pores
Nut: ebony
Tailpiece: ebony
Tailgut: red gut
Pegs: four brown wood with varied color; bone eyes
Saddle: ebony; large
Endpin: black-varnished hardwood
F-holes: placed low on top; flared and pointed wings; large notches; notch corners rounded
Linings: open-pored hardwood
Corner blocks: unknown wood
Top block: spruce
Bottom block: spruce
Bassbar: rounded edges
Other: inside of body stained brown
DimensionsTotal octavo violin length: 671 mm
Back length: 383 mm
Upper bout width: 209 mm
Center bout width: 123 mm
Lower bout width: 256 mm
Body width at upper corners: 192 mm
Body width at lower corners: 226 mm
Distance between upper and lower corners on treble side: 98 mm
Distance between upper and lower corners on bass side: 94 mm
Upper rib height: 41-43 mm
Center rib height: 42-43 mm
Lower rib height: 42-44 mm
Stop length: 235 mm
Vibrating string length: 385 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 148 mm
Back length: 383 mm
Upper bout width: 209 mm
Center bout width: 123 mm
Lower bout width: 256 mm
Body width at upper corners: 192 mm
Body width at lower corners: 226 mm
Distance between upper and lower corners on treble side: 98 mm
Distance between upper and lower corners on bass side: 94 mm
Upper rib height: 41-43 mm
Center rib height: 42-43 mm
Lower rib height: 42-44 mm
Stop length: 235 mm
Vibrating string length: 385 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 148 mm
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Terms
Credit Line: Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Not on view
Object number: 04996