Violin
Maker
Friedrich Wilhelm Meisel
Date1772
Place MadeQuittenbach, Saxony, Germany, Europe
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label, the last digit of year written in black ink: Friedrich Wilhelm Meiſel, / musſ icaliſcher Inſtrumentenmacher / in Quittenbach Ao. 1772.MarkingsBranded on bridge toward fingerboard: K.L.MEISELDescriptionThis instrument by Friedrich Wilhelm Meisel has somewhat protruding corners, sometimes seen in the Vogtland school, who built their instruments freehand rather than on an internal or external mold.Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain; small dowel hole through top into top block on bass side of center joint; rectangular spruce cleats along inside of center joint
Back: two-piece, quarter-cut maple: prominent, broad curl descending from center joint; rectangular maple cleats along inside of center joint; later ebony crown over top edge of back button
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: prominent, broad curl, angled to right on upper bass and lower treble bouts, angled to left on lower bass and upper treble bouts, not angled at center bouts
Head: maple: narrow curl; inside of pegbox stained black at a later date
Neck: maple: medium curl; grafted
Arching: full
Edging: large, broad corners
Varnish: light golden orange
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: ebony; later
Tailpiece: ebony; decoratively molded upper edge without saddle; decorative grooves carved on face at lower end; copper lyre inlaid in face; later
Tailgut: black plastic
Pegs: four rosewood with ebony pins; convex, undercut heads; by Emil Lorenz, Bubenreuth, originally from Schönbach
Saddle: ebony; extends slightly into ribs
Endpin: rosewood with two decorative, turned grooves
F-holes: curved, tapered wings
Linings: spruce; narrow
Corner blocks: spruce
Top block: spruce; later
Bottom block: spruce; small; very narrow
Bassbar: later
Other: saw marks visible on inside of ribsDimensionsBack length: 358 mm
Upper bout width: 163 mm
Center bout width: 110 mm
Lower bout width: 205 mm
Upper rib height: 30-31 mm
Center rib height: 31-32 mm
Lower rib height: 31-32 mm
Total violin length: 589 mm
Stop length: 192 mm
Vibrating string length: 326 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 134 mmProvenancePurchased by Lothar Meisel from an owner in Canada.
Gift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, Owatonna, Minnesota, 1997.Published ReferencesProd. Julie Kucaj. “Lothar Meisel,” Arts & Minds. Bravo! News Style Arts Channel, Toronto, 30-31 Jan. 2003
K. Lothar Meisel with Betty Vos. The Meisel Family Violin Makers: Klingenthal, Vogtland, Saxony (Ely, Minnesota: Singing River Publications, Inc., 2007), pp. 68-71.
Credit LineGift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, 1997
Object number06053
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