Old violin provenance

[Northerner]

Dear community,

 

Considering the photographs and the points below, where do you think this is from?

1. Linings let into corner blocks (square, not pointed)

2. Scroll fluting cut “till the bitter end”

3. Single piece bottom rib with alignment notch (-es)

4. Wide upper bout with broad shoulders

5. Pointy Corners

6. One-piece spruce top and slab-cut maple back

 

 

 

[jacobsaunders]

I would speculate, that it could be mid to late 18^th C rural Austrian or South Bohemian. Does it show any signs of originally having had a “Through neck”?

[Northerner]

36 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said:

I would speculate, that it could be mid to late 18^th C rural Austrian or South Bohemian. Does it show any signs of originally having had a “Through neck”?

Thank you for your comment, Jacob!

It is clear that the top block is much newer than the bottom (might be original), so someone did reset the neck in the past. Are there any other signs I could look for?

I am fascinated by the peculiar shape of the body. With those broad shoulders, it almost looks like a viola when looking at the back.

[jacobsaunders]

39 minutes ago, Northerner said:

. Are there any other signs I could look for?

 

Any remnants of a back "Platform" that might have been planed off

[Northerner]

4 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

Any remnants of a back "Platform" that might have been planed off

In the photos I took before I sent it off to a restorer, I can’t see any signs of this platform. Were only through necks used in the 18th century in the area you mentioned?

[jacobsaunders]

I have become very careful with words like "only"

[Northerner]

12 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

I have become very careful with words like "only"

This reminds me of you being a court appointed expert. Point taken.

[Blank face]

Could you show an outside view of the belly, please?

[Northerner]

58 minutes ago, Blank face said:

Could you show an outside view of the belly, please?

Here it is. I will post more photos when it comes back from the luthier all clean and set up.

[Blank face]

Thanks. From this photo (and the scroll) I would rather assume something Mittenwald related more close to 1800, though outline and inside work (straight cut lining tips) are a bit unusual.

[Northerner]

1 hour ago, Blank face said:

Thanks. From this photo (and the scroll) I would rather assume something Mittenwald related more close to 1800, though outline and inside work (straight cut lining tips) are a bit unusual.

Thanks for your observation!

[donbarzino]

In your photo of the inside of the back plate that lighter colored V shaped area just below the present platform looks like a sign of a neck block platform having being planed off .

A close up photo of that area would be helpful.

[Northerner]

10 hours ago, donbarzino said:

In your photo of the inside of the back plate that lighter colored V shaped area just below the present platform looks like a sign of a neck block platform having being planed off .

A close up photo of that area would be helpful.

 

[donbarzino]

It looks like the top block platform originally extended over that V shaped area

and the lighter color indicates it was carved away more recently.

[Blank face]

12 hours ago, Northerner said:

 

From my experience throughneck platforms needed to be longer than this, similar to the photo posted by Jacob. But there might be exceptions.