Jim Bress Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 I found these pictures of a Maggini ca. 1615 posted on pintrest by Massimo Chalvien. I wasn't able to find any more information about this viola (or Massimo). Well, I think it's a viola. Anyway, I really like the shape of this instrument. Does anyone recognize it, or have any more information about it? Thanks, Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Nope...but it's an example of why I think Maggini's look 'just right'.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Berl Mendenhall Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Rue, I like them also. I'm pretty fascinate with him right now. By the way you can get Hill' s book on Maggini for next to nothing from amazon (I believe). It's no ways near as good as the Strad book but still a fun read. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 39 minutes ago, Berl Mendenhall said: Rue, I like them also. I'm pretty fascinate with him right now. By the way you can get Hill' s book on Maggini for next to nothing from amazon (I believe). It's no ways near as good as the Strad book but still a fun read. Good to know! Thank you! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Allen Posted January 22, 2017 Report Share Posted January 22, 2017 Those little squinty f holes. Lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bress Posted January 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2017 8 hours ago, Nick Allen said: Those little squinty f holes. Lol. Facetious? I really like the width of the f-holes. They seem in proportion to the robust outline and arching of the instrument. Although I just have an impression of what I expect the arching to look like given the straight on pics. I'm still hoping someone can come up with more information on this instrument. It looks like a model I would like to make. -Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted January 22, 2017 Report Share Posted January 22, 2017 I don't mind them either. They just look robust. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Presumin Ed Posted January 22, 2017 Report Share Posted January 22, 2017 On 1/20/2017 at 11:45 PM, Berl Mendenhall said: Rue, I like them also. I'm pretty fascinate with him right now. By the way you can get Hill' s book on Maggini for next to nothing from amazon (I believe). It's no ways near as good as the Strad book but still a fun read. Alternatively you can find a digital copy here: https://archive.org/details/giopaolomagginih92hugg Ed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bress Posted January 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 21 hours ago, Presumin Ed said: Alternatively you can find a digital copy here: https://archive.org/details/giopaolomagginih92hugg Ed. I just finished reading the book. On reflection I doubt that the pictures I posted is a Maggini. According to the Hill book, Maggini occasionally did a single purfling, but he always made the the upper eye larger than the lower eye for the F-holes. The book speaks very highly of the "Dumas" Maggini viola. I'll continue my search in that direction. -Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deans Posted January 23, 2017 Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 Cool. Strange mix of strings, makes you wonder what's going on with that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Presumin Ed Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 19 hours ago, Jim Bress said: I just finished reading the book. On reflection I doubt that the pictures I posted is a Maggini. According to the Hill book, Maggini occasionally did a single purfling, but he always made the the upper eye larger than the lower eye for the F-holes. The book speaks very highly of the "Dumas" Maggini viola. I'll continue my search in that direction. -Jim Hi Jim, You might like to take a look at the book 'Liutai in Brescia'. There you can see pictures and information about many Brescian instruments, including the 'Dumas' viola (p.202). Also a Maggini viola with single purfling (p.186). There are a number of articles, including one on Brescian instrument construction by John Dilworth which I found fascinating to consult as I was working on a Brescian-inspired viola. On one question you refer to above he and the Hills seem to come to different conclusions: "The upper and lower eyes of the f are usually cut with the same sized circle-cutter, a tool familiar to any decorative woodworker of the period, I believe, and not exclusive to the violin-makers of Cremona." (p.61). Ed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bress Posted January 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 Hi Ed, Yes Liutai in Brescia is next on my reading list. How can I not like the Brescians, they borrowed part of my name. Oh wait, I might have that backwards. Thanks, Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Berl Mendenhall Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 On 1/22/2017 at 11:56 AM, Jim Bress said: Facetious? I really like the width of the f-holes. They seem in proportion to the robust outline and arching of the instrument. Although I just have an impression of what I expect the arching to look like given the straight on pics. I'm still hoping someone can come up with more information on this instrument. It looks like a model I would like to make. -Jim Jim, I believe the Strad has a Maggini poster of one of his violins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bress Posted January 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 1 minute ago, Berl Mendenhall said: Jim, I believe the Strad has a Maggini poster of one of his violins. Hi Berl, I checked The Strad previously and they only had a Maggini violin. I'll look again. Thanks, Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Berl Mendenhall Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 1 minute ago, Jim Bress said: Hi Berl, I checked The Strad previously and they only had a Maggini violin. I'll look again. Thanks, Jim I wish they would spread the love around a little more. Maggini is a very important maker we could learn a lot from. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bress Posted January 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 Agreed! The more I read up on him, the more I want to know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Presumin Ed Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, Jim Bress said: Hi Ed, Yes Liutai in Brescia is next on my reading list. You can get a preview of François Denis' article on the Geometry of Brescian instruments here. (Also worth conferring with the YouTube videos Kevin Kelly has produced.) Ed. Edited January 24, 2017 by Presumin Ed typo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bress Posted January 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 Thanks Ed! I used François Denis' geometry to draw/make my Strad P form. For me, drawing out the form helps me see the details in a way I would not notice by copying an outline. -Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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