Lion's Head Stainer

[Rue]

Yes...I know...probably Dutzenarbeit ...not esp. good quality.  BassClef might appreciate the very dark varnish more than me (but I do like darker varnishes...just not quite to this chocolate brown level)...
 
However...its just a tad different than some of the others...so I'm just wondering if it's only a variation on the theme...or if there's more to it...

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/131039511894?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

...and yes...while I might not want to show up to rehearsal with this violin...I like carved scrolls (as long as they're not creepy old man heads)...fancy purfling and other such extraneous goodies...

[jacobsaunders]

If I were the autocratically governing dictator of Maestronet (don't worry, I'm not ) there would be a mandatory punishment of twelve press-ups for posting such a violin, and a further twelve press-ups for tagging it “Stainer question mark”

[Rue]

...I could use the exercise...

 

Okay then...I was right...just hoping I wasn't...(and that one of these violins might actually prove to be 'interesting')...thank you for keeping me on the straight and narrow!

[Dave Slight]

If I were the autocratically governing dictator of Maestronet (don't worry, I'm not ) there would be a mandatory punishment of twelve press-ups for posting such a violin, and a further twelve press-ups for tagging it “Stainer question mark”

Only 24 Jacob? You're in a good mood today

[palousian]

While it would be conventional to call this violin a "lion's head," it looks a lot more like a hairy pig head.  It is a tribute to my sick mind that I think it would be cool to get this one and inlay a couple of bone tusks on either side of that lower jaw...That's probably another dozen pushups, or, uh, "dutzenarbeit"--literally.

 

I'll admit that I like a fine-carved lions' head, and here is one of an (apparently) earlier generation that I confess tempted me, back when I was hunting for a violin.  It was labeled "Joannes Jais" with a 1732 date, if I recall correctly, but I assume that's bogus.  I was at this auction and clearly the Skinner folks recognized that an anonymous old-looking lion's-head violin (they didn't attribute it to any particular century, even) was attractive, since they estimated it at $3K-$5K.  The bass bar crack was a disaster, however, and the tone of it was closer to kazoo than violin.  No one in the room would touch it, but an internet bidder jumped on it at $1.8K.     

 

http://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2688B/lots/97

 

Paul

[Addie]

Hairy pig head

For some reason there is a myth among North America fiddle players that these "Stainer" monstrosities are better than the same Dutzendware without the back brand or pig head, and consequently they sell for 2X the typical MkSch PoS price.

[Will L]

I have always wanted to be able to state something with complete authority and assurance on the pages of Maestronet:

 

THIS VIOLIN IS DEFINITELY A STAINER

 

All you experts are just wrong.  Perhaps you are confused because the back, ribs, top, neck, and "pig or lionhead" scroll have been replaced.  I can't speak to the linings and blocks, since I can't see them.  They COULD be original.

 

Oh, wait a minute, April 1st is still two weeks away.  Continue to talk among yourselves.

[Roger Hargrave]

Sometimes you are just too chritical Jacob. It's got nice ears. I've always likes nice ears.  

[Addie]

I think I'd prefer a creepy old man head to a feral pig with devil-dog eyes, even if it has cute ears.

1, Geigenbaumeister, 2, Geigenbaumeister, 3, Geigenbaumeister, 4, ....

[Stephen Faulk]

Sometimes you are just too chritical Jacob. It's got nice ears. I've always likes nice ears.  

 That must be the bunny suit talking. 

[Ron1]

 Can't resist the opportunity to march these Reindahl heads out on my 1000th post:

 

His version of the lion head, and his grumpy old man (Satyr head):

 

 

[Blank face]

There can be very fine carved lion heads (also satyrs, female figures and more) on historical or recent violins, and I won't even mind about a nice Miss Piggy .

The Skinner "tyrolean" seems to be, as to asssume by the small pictures, an 18th century possibly austrian masterpiece (could it be, Jacob?) and very different from Dutzendarbeit - with the open seams and open edges it's no wonder, that it sounds like a Kazoo, and the online bidder has shown obviously more taste than the bidders in the room.

[Rue]

It does not look like a hairy pig head!  It looks like a care-worn lion! Kinda folksy perhaps...but still lion-y...

[palousian]

Blank Face,

 

About that Skinner violin...No doubt it was a great violin in its prime (I posted it for contrast with the standard Dutzenarbeit version), but the images don't show the considerable damage around the bass bar, which is why the internet bidder got results, and those of us who actually saw the violin in person and handled it knew what we were doing.  Unless you are the happy new owner and were actually able to get the thing to come to life, or you know this person, consider this a lesson in evaluating violins from small images.  The lion's head was really nice, though, and the violin was very lovely and elegant otherwise. 

[Blank face]

Blank Face,

 

About that Skinner violin...No doubt it was a great violin in its prime (I posted it for contrast with the standard Dutzenarbeit version), but the images don't show the considerable damage around the bass bar, which is why the internet bidder got results, and those of us who actually saw the violin in person and handled it knew what we were doing.  Unless you are the happy new owner and were actually able to get the thing to come to life, or you know this person, consider this a lesson in evaluating violins from small images.  The lion's head was really nice, though, and the violin was very lovely and elegant otherwise. 

 

Sorry, if I sounded too offensive, but I didn't buy the violin nor do I know, who did. Just for the not very significant small photos and the shipping and customs fees I would have to pay, I would be very careful to buy such stuff by looking at the pictures only.

My point was, that the buyer judged the violin not by it's actual sound, in a poor condition, like you described everybody in the room was doing, but by the fine work of the exceptional head and it's probable origin, which I assumed to be 18th century austrian, and, if the head was original to the body, from a very skilled maker. Surely it would be of a higher interest for a restorer, who won't pay high restoration  costs, or a collector - but maybe such a head alone could be auctioned for $ 1 000 or more?