Ratcliffiddles

looks like a late 19th century Markneukirchen violin to me.

The front is (to me) clearly from 2 pieces, whether you can see the joint or not, as the grain orientation is opposite for the 2 pieces.

Are you sure it is one-piece?? Although it is not clear on the bass side, but from what I see the grain orientation on both bass and treble sides runs from the edges inward, which would make the from 2 pieces. A clear picture of the bass side side grain would be useful to confirm.

It looks like a late 19th century Markneukirchen violin which has possibly received some harmful over-varnish treatment, with a scroll from a different, much more interesting and older instrument.

That would be ignoring not just seasonal variations, but a lot of other factors.

I shouldn't think so. It looks totally typical of the "Stainer model" Richard Duke used ( as well as the other "Strad" model", which doesn't look anything like a Strad) And that scroll is unmistakably a Duke.

Nathan, Yes, chronologically speaking, and yes, the growth trend of the rings as the tree ages tends to be negative. Almost what I am saying. What I am saying is that the latest chronological rings on his one piece fronts are found equally frequently (if not more) on the bass side than on the treble side.

There are quite a few one-piece fronts on 18th century English instruments ( many Dukes. Thomas Smith, and others). not so many in Italy at the same time, although plenty before 1700, and interestingly ( to do with grain orientation) there are equally as many pre 1700 Stradivari, if not more, with the later growth at the treble side rather than the bass. On different Stradivari violins, the later growth from the same log ends up at opposite sides of the belly.

So that generally means the oldest rings ( nearer the centre of the tree) on the bass side and the latest growth on the treble side. Who wouldn't do that with a one-piece front?

No brand to see, but I have only seen it twice, and i have seen dozens of Furber instruments without.

Looks like a typical and rather clean Furber to me. Have a look at the C bout linings, sometimes they have stamp

Yes, many more pictures need. The crack on the C bout rib may suggest that there are corner block, or not "proper" ones.

Difficult violin.. Scroll and general feel, to me is French mid19th century. What is the body length? 363mm?

I personally don't see a Saxon instrument here, and although the scroll doesn't convince me, I wouldn't dismiss it as not being from Mittenwald without a thorough look. The model of the corpus, to me fits rather better with Mittenwald /Klotz production.

That's certainly what the model looks like to me