Name/Title
ViolinEntry/Object ID
2023.8.3 A-BDescription
Violin covered in cloth and housed in a cardboard box alongside a handwritten note on yellow paper from an appraiser.
Violin is a replica Stradivarius, manufactured approximately from 1880 to 1900 in Germany, and the fingerboard has broken off.
The cardboard box is from Keller’s a local fur trader in Saint Joseph, Missouri. On the inside of the box-lid is the following message:
“From Keller’s,
Where quality furs are find at low prices.
Cold storage vaults on premises.
Having bought fine furs do not neglect them
Proper care means longer wear and greater satisfaction.
Clean your furs at least once each season.
Only a furrier can clean furs safely.
Never dry clean.
Make necessary repairs promptly.
Send your furs to us for cold storage.
Restyling and repairing
At lowest prices.”
The handwritten note has the following message:
“Violin
approximate date
of manufacture
1880-1990
(Independent states of
Saxony, Prussia, Bulvaria were
joined together to form a country
GERMANY - in 1873
LABEL INSIDE made in Germany)
crack in spruce top cracked,
fingerboard needs replacing
pegs - scroll is cracked
TO BE PLAYABLE - these need to be remediated.
Original finish-deteriorating
the tone is enriched by the varnish - so refinishing is not recommended.
Since this is a copy and was intended for student/amateur use is many were sold in catalog stores at the turn of the century.”
Violin is 2023.8.3A, while Box is 2023.8.3B.Collection
MUSICLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Instruments, Musical, Musical instruments, Violins, Stringed instruments, String quartets (Musical groups)Parts
Count
5Parts
Violin, fingerboard, box, box lid, and note.Material
CARDBOARD, SPRUCE, Wood, CLOTH, PaperColor
beige, Black, Brown, Tan
