Colin_baillie Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 Hi, I wonder if anyone could assist me in identifying this violin? It was purchased in Twente in The Netherlands but has no makers label. It has a repaired crack above the right side f hole. It plays well and has a nice warm sound. Any thoughts would appreciated as I have very little information on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 I would have expected to see something like a “Gebrüder Placht” label in such a violin. It would seem the original (darker) varnish has been stripped, and then re-varnished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin_baillie Posted May 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 I had suspected a revarnish. I forgot to mention that it has unusually high arching to the back which isn't maybe as clear in the photos. It does seem a nice instrument. Shame about the varnish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin_baillie Posted May 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 Jacob, would you mind elaborating on the 'tells' that it could be something like be Gebrüder Placht violin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobsaunders Posted May 4, 2017 Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 Gebrüder Placht was a very large Schönbach Manufacturer which had an immense commercial connection to some of the Viennese violin makers. The paper trail of this business relationship is for instance still lying in a dusty corner of Lemöck's shop (in the Musikverein, which is still a thriving business). Thus one gets to see these instruments often enough around here. They display all the Schönbach characteristics, which I listed in the „Markneukirchen“ half of this list once before, here: https://maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/topic/325798-quiz-for-addie/&do=findComment&comment=538590 They had subsidiaries in Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest, and presumably America, although the violin making was done in Schönbach. There were other enterprises in Schönbach who could just as well have made the instrument, so you will not be able to start calling it a „Placht“, at least not on my authority The give-away with the varnish, is that one can see how an earlier, darker varnish has soaked into the end-grain parts, and the soft annual rings. One should also remember that the violin-makers/dealers in the K&K monarchy could order violins directly in Schönbach, whereas to order one from nearby Markneukirchen, one would have had to cross a border, and pay customs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin_baillie Posted May 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2017 Very interesting and useful post in the previous thread. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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