Violin

Alexander Murdoch

(Note: Each icon above opens in a new tab.)

Instrument

Violin/Violins/Strings/Musical Instrument ; Violin

Instrument Family

Strings

Maker

Alexander Murdoch

Place Made

Aberdeen ; Europe ; Scotland ; United Kingdom

Date Made

1873

Description

This violin has a soundboard of spruce; ribs, back and scroll of maple; fingerboard, tailpiece and chin rest of ebony; pegs of pear Hill/heart style with ivory mounts. The instrument has a brown varnish and purfling of dark/light/dark wood. The soundboard grain is of variable width. Belly has high arching. Back of book matched figured maple. Currently strung with four metal strings. Measurements: Overall length: 610mm Neck length: 129mm Fingerboard length: 267mm String length: 335mm Neck width at nut: 25mm Fingerboard end width: 46mm Body length: 354mm Width of upper bout: 162mm Width of lower bout: 203mm. Cultural/Historical importance: Alexander Murdoch is described as a self-taught violin maker, though the formulaic construction of his instruments, such as this one here, suggest at least a degree of training. This training is likely to have come from Thomas Jamieson, whose instruments share many similar characteristics with Murdoch’s. Murdoch was known to reject the classical violin styles of European makers in favour of regional making techniques. His works ranged from upmarket styles to lower-grade works which lacked purfling and were often varnished in thinner, blue toned varnishes. This instrument is an example of his more upmarket works, with well-crafted purfling and brown varnish.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

6618

Related Items