Best Head Other Than a Scroll

[Dwight Brown]

In the spirit of the worst scroll ever post (which has had some remarkable entries :-)   What is the best head on a violin family instrument other than a scroll you have seen?  Carved head, Etc.

 

DLB

[Evan Smith]

I've GOT IT!

 

[Thomas Coleman]

I love the Kopf that Martin Biller puts on his instruments.  I wish I could carve like that!

[MikeC]

I like this.  A friend of mine had one,  but that one had a bald head.

[Dwight Brown]

1 hour ago, Evan Smith said:

I've GOT IT!

 

It's the cat!  I miss him still.

 

DLB

[matejkliman]

For me, from the violin heads, definitely the Tielke 1685

[palousian]

A friend of mine has made a couple of nice violins (and is a great bluegrass fiddler), but is a dentist by trade.  His #2, made from a maple tree that came down in the yard of the house he grew up in, in the Puget Sound area, has a scroll based on Northwest Native American carving.  He gave his OK to show it to you.

[Violadamore]

4 minutes ago, palousian said:

A friend of mine has made a couple of nice violins (and is a great bluegrass fiddler), but is a dentist by trade.  His #2, made from a maple tree that came down in the yard of the house he grew up in, in the Puget Sound area, has a scroll based on Northwest Native American carving.  He gave his OK to show it to you.

Now that's impressive.

[MikeC]

I like that.  Nice looking varnish too. 

[Stavanger]

I have a facination towards Hardanger fiddle heads

[Evan Smith]

A pair of sisters wanted a pair of fiddles,,,

a pair of eagles, ,,,,

pointed one beak toward the G peg, the other toward the E ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or the a string would be impossible to thread.

old 35mm pics, no digital in the ancient past.

[Evan Smith]

1 minute ago, Stavanger said:

I have a facination towards Hardanger fiddle heads

I like those too.

The basic weird.

[Will L]

The violin traditionally was considered a functional object.  All parts had their purposes.  Of course with the nobility, the wealthy, and centuries of status seekers pestering makers to add to what really should have been left simple and plain, we have been given all sorts of silly stuff:  double purfling; F hole shaped F-holes; gilded inscriptions on ribs; fluted pegboxes; bee-stinged miters—just to list a few.

I'm all for getting rid of everything that isn't necessary.  Why, for example, should a scroll have ears?  After all, it is the player who needs ears...well, supposedly he needs them!  Even though some of us are beginning to doubt that premise.    

And why not expand on my idea:  Make violins even MORE utilitarian.  The following could be incorporated into the scroll quite easily:  

http://www.batteryjunction.com/ust-survival-card-0-5-multi-tool.html?gclid=CNSHgdiU0tMCFYVafgod5tIAwQ

We could have a nail file; bottle opener; compass; clip for attaching a bayonet; a magnifying glass!  In fact, the possibilities are almost endless!  And if we extended our creativity to the body of the instrument we could add a world atlas; a copy of the Magna Carta; a miniature "Mona Lisa;"  a New Orleans "Blue Book;" information on performing tracheotomies and appendectomies.  How many lives might eventually be saved—or at least enriched or made more pleasant? I'd say such violins would be worthy of a Nobel or two.  

I have contacted the upper management of "Snap-on Tools," but as yet have not heard from them.  I feel like they would have a head start on such a project, and would certainly appreciate the underlying wisdom.  I can't imagine they wouldn't snap up such a golden opportunity, but American management isn't what it used to be.

   

[Jeff Jetson]

I am partial to Evan's eagles.

[Davide Sora]

Viola family.....alas I did the photograph only, not the head.

(Sorry for the quality of the photo which does not fully show the real quality of the work, old cibachrome print re-photographed)

[vathek]

Why isn't there a 'like' button?

[Ron1]

I've probably posted these before, but Knute Reindahl's carved heads are exceptional-

 

 

Edited May 4, 2017 by Ron1
so crawlers don't pick up images

[Rue]

I like the concept of attaching a bayonet...

I'd finally be a stand-out player.

[Dwight Brown]

5 hours ago, matejkliman said:

For me, from the violin heads, definitely the Tielke 1685

This is amazing, The back of the peg box too.

 

DLB

[Violadamore]

1 hour ago, Will L said:

The violin traditionally was considered a functional object.  All parts had their purposes.  Of course with the nobility, the wealthy, and centuries of status seekers pestering makers to add to what really should have been left simple and plain, we have been given all sorts of silly stuff:  double purfling; F hole shaped F-holes; gilded inscriptions on ribs; fluted pegboxes; bee-stinged miters—just to list a few.

I'm all for getting rid of everything that isn't necessary.  Why, for example, should a scroll have ears?  After all, it is the player who needs ears...well, supposedly he needs them!  Even though some of us are beginning to doubt that premise.    

And why not expand on my idea:  Make violins even MORE utilitarian.  The following could be incorporated into the scroll quite easily:  

http://www.batteryjunction.com/ust-survival-card-0-5-multi-tool.html?gclid=CNSHgdiU0tMCFYVafgod5tIAwQ

We could have a nail file; bottle opener; compass; clip for attaching a bayonet; a magnifying glass!  In fact, the possibilities are almost endless!  And if we extended our creativity to the body of the instrument we could add a world atlas; a copy of the Magna Carta; a miniature "Mona Lisa;"  a New Orleans "Blue Book;" information on performing tracheotomies and appendectomies.  How many lives might eventually be saved—or at least enriched or made more pleasant? I'd say such violins would be worthy of a Nobel or two.  

I have contacted the upper management of "Snap-on Tools," but as yet have not heard from them.  I feel like they would have a head start on such a project, and would certainly appreciate the underlying wisdom.  I can't imagine they wouldn't snap up such a golden opportunity, but American management isn't what it used to be.

   

Intercepted on the way to the MN spam bucket by the Accadenia's "Rear ECHELON" software:

"Deal Mr. L,

  We at Wanking Works approval your idea most good.  Send please full notes and drawings with $250.00 USD registration fee drawn on Paypal to [REDACTED]@worldoscams.cn to  initiate immediate production.

Thanking and most luck,

Y. Fu,

CEO, Wanking Sword, Violin, Electronics, Bridal Apparel, and Oyster Sauce Works,

Wanking, China"

[Don Noon]

Not that I think this is in the "best" category, but it fits as "other than a scroll".  MN'ers who have been around a while will likely recognize this thing... the first head I carved before ever attempting a traditional scroll.  Actually, it's the first thing I ever carved, period.

[J.DiLisio]

Wow, that ram head scroll is a beauty!

Here's Charles Mingus and his lion headed bass..  It was carved from the original scroll.

[Jeff Jetson]

Your scroll is so unique Don.

[GeorgeH]

This is a great thread - thanks for all the cool pictures!

[MeyerFittings]