Violin

Object/Artifact

-

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Violin

Entry/Object ID

1986.26.1a-c

Description

Tin fiddle, bow and case. The fiddle and case were made by Forrest "Strad" Gray of East Calais, Vt. The fiddle has a tin body, a tin and wooden neck and a wooden bridge. The keys are both wooden and metal. The bow has been repaired and is commercial. The case is wooden and painted black. The body of the fiddle has been painted gold. This was used in "Always in Season," an exhibit of Vermont's folk art in 1982-3. Forrest Gray was a tinsmith and self-taught musician. His began playing the fiddle as a young boy and was nicknamed "Stradivarius" which was shortened to "Strad" Gray made the body of this fiddle from the tin he was using to make water pails. If you look closely you will see other repairs he made using any materials that were convenient. A regular participant in concerts of the Northeast and Old Time Fiddler Associations, he won the Ninth Annual Old-Time Fiddlers Contest held at Craftsbury Common in 1971. Gray lived to be 103 and was a popular and entertaining member of the East Calais community. See Worksheet for more information.

Acquisition

Accession

1986.26

Source or Donor

Gray, Forrest (1884-1987)

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Gray, Forrest (1884-1987)

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Violin

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Fiddle

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Instrument, Stringed

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Musical Instruments

Nomenclature Class

Musical T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication

Dimensions

Width

8 in

Depth

1-1/4 in

Length

23-1/4 in

Material

Wood, Tin, Metal, Mother of Pearl

Web Links and URLs

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