Any theories on what caused this damage?

[epe913]

I always get asked what happened to my violin... and the answer is I do not know! It was like this when I bought it and it doesn’t bother me because I think it adds character and an identifying feature. No crack, just a surface abrasion of some sort. Any theories as to what caused this? I wish I knew because I am very curious of a person, haha. Is this damage anything I should be concerned about fixing/restoring? My luthier didn’t think so but I’m not sure if this can even be restored if I’d want to in the future? Thanks! 

 

[epe913]

And sorry for the poor photos with all the glare! Gah! I have only a cell phone camera and am experimenting with instrument photography but don’t have then lighting, tech, or skills yet to take better closeups, but I’m working on it. 

[Violadamore]

Never smoke while playing. 

[carl1961]

It looks to me like something someone tried to touch up those spots with and that something that they used when sour.

[Don Noon]

I would guess that something was in a violin case and hitting it.  The damage is in the wrong spot for it to be a bow retaining clip, but maybe the bow was loose and ratting against the violin.

[carl1961]

2 hours ago, Don Noon said:

I would guess that something was in a violin case and hitting it.  The damage is in the wrong spot for it to be a bow retaining clip, but maybe the bow was loose and ratting against the violin.

That's sound more like the damage caused, I was looking at the black stuff LOL. those would be where the bow would hit.

[epe913]

3 hours ago, Don Noon said:

I would guess that something was in a violin case and hitting it.  The damage is in the wrong spot for it to be a bow retaining clip, but maybe the bow was loose and ratting against the violin.

That is my leading theory as the black marks seem to be on the right side of each of the wood grains, like something rubbed over it from the same direction. Maybe one of those old style violin cases that had a spinner that pivoted over the body of the instrument compared to today’s Velcro around the neck???

[epe913]

7 hours ago, carl1961 said:

It looks to me like something someone tried to touch up those spots with and that something that they used when sour.

That could be it as there are black/dark marks around the top like something someone did (glue? Retouch?) after having the top off turned dark over time. 

[epe913]

10 hours ago, Violadamore said:

Never smoke while playing. 

Lol! I like it. I need a cool story/theory for when people ask.

[Michael Jennings]

Quite probable that the "black" is simply dirt/grunge that has gotten onto/into the bare unsealed Spruce where the varnish was worn away by whatever was rubbing/knocking against the belly.

 

[David Burgess]

3 hours ago, epe913 said:

Lol! I like it. I need a cool story/theory for when people ask.

Since the damage is at the upper corner, you'll need to weave into the story that the violinist was using a long cigarette holder, or a super-long cigar.

 

There are lots of other images of cigarette holders (and pipes) which you could print out (whatever suits your fancy), and keep in you case for the occasions when people ask.

[bkwood]

It could have been where the previous owner stashed the shoulder rest in the case.

[Bruce Carlson]

I see them as burn marks. the varnish has bubbled around the area if you look closely.

[David Burgess]

[Guest]

Funny how we imagine what an anonymous MN person looks like only to find out that they look nothing like what we imagined.

No offense whatsoever to VdA but this is kinda what she looks like in my minds eye playing one of her fiddles......great photo David!

[uguntde]

I have a nice violin where I guess it was a music stand ...

[bkwood]

2 hours ago, Bruce Carlson said:

I see them as burn marks. the varnish has bubbled around the area if you look closely.

Hard to say for sure. They look like gouges to me, that have filled in with gunk of some kind, maybe someone trying to disappear bare wood. Shoulder rests are probably a frequent cause of damage for people who, like me, are always trying to fit their rest in the case somehow.

[epe913]

7 hours ago, David Burgess said:

Oh wow! Someone playing a violin smoking is something I’ve never seen before! Not sure if it’s burn marks as they are all on the right side of the grain. Looks more scuff like to me but smoking is a better story.  

[epe913]

6 hours ago, uguntde said:

I have a nice violin where I guess it was a music stand ...

True! Playing outdoor gigs I’m often dodging flying stands and plexiglass missiles! 

[epe913]

7 hours ago, Bruce Carlson said:

I see them as burn marks. the varnish has bubbled around the area if you look closely.

Hmmm that could cause the texture there and explain the darkening. Violin is from 1907 so who knows what it has experienced but I’d sure like to know!  The luthier I got it from French polished it so that makes it harder to see because it’s so shiny haha. 

[Violadamore]

Someone might have rested a cigarette on the edge, or spilled a pipe on it.  Oh, and thanks much to LPR5184.

[romberg flat]

Maybe the previous owner had a cat?

[epe913]

4 hours ago, romberg flat said:

Maybe the previous owner had a cat?

Aaah! I looooove cats! But alas it doesn’t look like the mark of two little kitty fangs. 

[Guest]

11 hours ago, Violadamore said:

Someone might have rested a cigarette on the edge, or spilled a pipe on it.  Oh, and thanks much to LPR5184.

I agree with the cigarette burn mark as the likely cause.

You're welcome V...I should have not looked up that lady in the photo because now I know it's not really you but Lillie Mae Risch...

Still, I imagine you are like this image of Lillie, with that Billie Holiday look in her eye, than some of the cartoonish images of you riding on gators posted in another thread.

...later gator...

[David Burgess]

2 hours ago, lpr5184 said:

 

You're welcome V...I should have not looked up that lady in the photo because now I know it's not really you but Lillie Mae Risch...

 

What makes you think that Violadamore and Lillie Mae are not one and the same?