antero

Not very helpful at all! Unless you know, with whom to associate all and every one of these features! But really; it would not be fair to ask an expert to reveal all the tricks of his trade... some of them are not...

Oh, and for what is it worth: the lower saddle (incl its extension into the saddle) is horizontal on the bottom edge. Who would be the likely (good) copyists of the last 20...40 years?

Thank you Martin! and best of luck with the ongoing holiday season, by the way... Lower saddle is let into the lower rib: ca 3...4 mm. I have asked that before - who was doing that? Or who was definitely NOT...? Lob is 353 mm. Yes well, I believe it to be a modern copy, but it is indeed rather well made: so I thought, - perhaps someone recognizes some specific features of the actual maker.

Thank you! Was Enrico also labelled as Jo Baptista? It would not be unusual to stick to the name/label of a famous first maker.

I did not look at the label before I wrote. Partly because as I remember, also violin literature has referred to this name in both ways; correct or not, no idea. With 18c German makers names this could be almost rule rather than exception. But you were right, it reads Ceruti inside.

Please, ladies and gentlemen, floor is yours. Inner work: symmetrical, slightly concave shape blocks, trapezoid cleats on the center seam. Lower bout in two pieces: the same piece of wood, nicely mirroring tha pattern to both sides. Lower saddle let into the rib ca 3 mm. Scroll fluting goes to the very end. And yes, Cerruti label (1817).

a very nice case, indeed!

Having the saddle let 3..4 mm into the bout has often been discussed one of the Mittenwald features. Was it also done elsewhere?

So Hamm's saddle is mainly (always) bone? Let into bout few mm-s?

One piece lower bout?

Thank you, good point! And thanks to everybody else.

Agreed, please tell me more!

Probably yes, in violin making. Perhaps not so, in political terms. In every empire, you look either up or down. So the welch and scotch...

And more , maybe somebody wishes to comment on lower saddle originaal design - the convex inlet into the lower rib.

Well, there is a Mr Zyka senior, too, but I agree: if it goes that far as 1850 - no this connection, most likely. But please refer to my original question. If you put Shönbach and rest of the XIX ct Bohemia in the same box, I rest my case. If not, I would ask further. Prague was always a wannabe Wien. Wha about Brünn? Is it a bob?