Help with identification viola

[Violafan]

I would like to receive some information, if possible.

 

Thanks!

[jacobsaunders]

 

[Violafan]

So I tried to my best, thanks for the advice. Sorry in advance if not good.

[deans]

To me it looks like early 19th century Saxon. Something like CG Schoenfelder or JG Heberlein. Especially the scroll.

Better pics may change that guess.

[jacobsaunders]

42 minutes ago, deans said:

To me it looks like early 19th century Saxon. Something like CG Schoenfelder or JG Heberlein. Especially the scroll.

Better pics may change that guess.

I would generally agree, although I wouldn't feel qualified to name any names, and would add that it is surely re-varnished

[deans]

The more reddish varnish is actually what reminded me of those two names.  Again with some reservations, overall the instrument doesnt look as strong as those makers. 

[Blank face]

 To me it bears no resemblance to both of them. To me it looks like a generic model, which can be found with a lot of different attributions.Definitely overcoated, Hard to tell what is original and what’s added below the coat.

[Violafan]

Sorry guys, I just have 2 post a day...

It's a 38.2cm viola, 355mm vibrant string, quite good sound I must say, super responsive, full of harmonics, super light instrument, big bass, clear dark and "nasal" (but not too much nasal) sound. I bought it from Tarisio, where they sold as a late 18th century viola. The setup is not top top but i'm testing, as I always do, different setups to arrive a optimal point, also accept suggestions if there's any.   I always played with big violas and I was a bit afraid of a small viola but actually got super suprised with the sound quality and changed a bit my perspective about the viola sizes btw. 

I already looked to a lot of instruments from this region and can't get anywhere, also because I don't see violas from this region that much available. The nose of the neck, correct me if wrong name, looks different from the instruments that I saw from this region, tomorrow I will add a picture of it. It has corner blocks, upper block and down (the correct word is not coming ahah) block. Also the End Pin has this stripes.

 

A luthier told me the maker of this viola is in this book "Vogtländischer Geigenbau Band 2 ab 1850" but I don't have it. I was told that this viola is probably from between 1760-80 if I understood correctly. The label inside has a Georg Klotz one, but fake of course, I don't know if can have something bellow this label.

Thanks!!!

Edited June 14, 2024 by Violafan
small correction

[Violafan]

6 hours ago, deans said:

To me it looks like early 19th century Saxon. Something like CG Schoenfelder or JG Heberlein. Especially the scroll.

Better pics may change that guess.

Which pictures do you want? 

If I take a bit to answer is because I have this 2 posts/day limit.

Thanks.

[Blank face]

15 hours ago, Violafan said:

A luthier told me the maker of this viola is in this book "Vogtländischer Geigenbau Band 2 ab 1850" but I don't have it. I was told that this viola is probably from between 1760-80 if I understood correctly.

Do you notice the failure?

Vogtlandish instruments from before 1800 are very rare, because the production incereased just later, in the early 1800s. Because many of these were labelled with mass-printed facsimile labels of older makers there's a lot of confusion how to date them.

In general there are only a few makers (or shops) out of the many producing instruments during the 19th century, which were individual enough to be identified clearly. The color of the varnish (which might not be original anyway) alone can't give any evidence.