Violin without sides
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InstrumentRenaissance Violin/Violin/Violins/Strings/Musical Instrument ; Violin |
Instrument FamilyStrings |
MakerThe Bassano family of Venice and London |
Date MadePossibly 17th century |
DescriptionThis instrument has a soundboard of spruce; back, neck and scroll of sycamore; fingerboard and tailpiece of ebony; pegs of boxwood; endbutton of sycamore(?). The festooned-shaped body does not have any ribs. The soundboard is made from one piece of wood and has crudely cut f-holes. The soundboard is decorated with painted purfling and butterfly designs. The instrument shows much evidence of use; the varnish has worn away in a number of places. The one-piece back is covered by a poor quality opaque varnish which conceals much of the grain. The endbutton is attached to the back, about 12mm from the bottom. There is a v-joint between the head and the body, made by a separate piece of wood which is let into the neck then set into the body. It takes part of the body contour, and is very well fitted to the body but nailed to the neck. The neck and scroll are crudely made; the scroll has a volute shape in side view, but there is no depth carving. The fiingerboard has been wedged as a baroque violin. The instrument has no bass bar, but does have a soundpost. Measurements: Neck 145mm long; fingerboard 255mm long, 21.9mm wide at the nut, 33.5mm wide at the bottom. Repair History: Repair on the back of rosewood, about 3 inches long. Inscription: Label glued on the back with "University of Edinburgh" around the edges and "Reid Bequest / Chair of Music" in centre. Another label reading "Curious Old Violin without sides. - see Dalyell's Musical / Memoirs." and a handwritten tick, a, a, slash, equal sign. Decorative features: decorative painting on front and back, the purfling consisting of lines with alternate crosses and dots in between, and naive butterflies on the upper and lower parts. Specific literature references: Dalyell 1849, p. 201; Engel 1872, Item 124 ;Hipkins 1885, p. 7. Illustration references: Vol. 1 p. 55. Previous ownership: Probably the 'violin without sides' purchased by Professor John Donaldson for the Music Classroom, University of Edinburgh from Wood & Co, 12 Waterloo Place, 11 October 1856. (Reid Collection). |
NotesD. Martin, 1993-94. |
Measurements552. |
ProvenanceProbably the `violin without sides' purchased by Professor John Donaldson for the Music Classroom, University of Edinburgh, from Wood & Co, 12 Waterloo Place, 11 October 1856. |
CollectionMIMEd ; Reid Collection |
Accession Number0329 |