amateur.geigenbau Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 Hello! Any opinions? Age? Origin? Factory-made violin or master-made violin? Is it worth anything? I find the interior work very beautiful. The bass bar is a bit odd...
GeorgeH Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 27 minutes ago, jacobsaunders said: Markneukirchen It looks more like Mittenwald to me. Not built-on-back, inserted ribs in the blocks, no delta on the scroll, and the red varnish.
Brad Dorsey Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 4 hours ago, GeorgeH said: It looks more like Mittenwald to me…inserted [linings] in the blocks… I have never seen Mittenwald linings like these. The ones that I see don’t hug the ribs all the way to their ends; their ends are set into the blocks away from the ribs. And I think they have pointed ends — not square.
Violadamore Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 2 hours ago, amateur.geigenbau said: Hello! Any opinions? Age? Origin? Factory-made violin or master-made violin? Is it worth anything? I find the interior work very beautiful. The bass bar is a bit odd... You didn't show us the outer lower bout sidewall at the endpin. Is it continuous? The edge view looks like it might be.
jacobsaunders Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 1 hour ago, GeorgeH said: It looks more like Mittenwald to me. no
GeorgeH Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 1 hour ago, Brad Dorsey said: have never seen Mittenwald linings like these. The ones that I see don’t hug the ribs all the way to their ends; their ends are set into the blocks away from the ribs. And I think they have pointed ends — not square. You have seen many more than I have and I also have not seen square ends like this either. However, it does not look like any pre-WWII Markneukirchen work, either. It looks newer than that, to me.
Brad Dorsey Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 4 hours ago, GeorgeH said: It looks more like Mittenwald to me... inserted [linings] in the blocks... To see what Mittenwald corner blocks and linings look like, compare the ones here with the ones in the current "Desecrated 'Buchstetter labelled' Violin" discussion. Note that the linings there have pointed ends that are not in contact with the ribs. Of course, inlaid lining ends cannot be seen with the top on. Also, note that the "Buchstetter" corner blocks extend a lot farther into the upper and lower bouts that they do into the C bouts. This is a typical Mittenwald feature that can be seen, in the lower corner blocks, from the outside with the top on. At this point, I have only looked at the first "Buchstetter" picture, which shows the corner blocks. When I look at the other pictures, I might see something that makes me uncertain that it is actually a Mittenwalder. But, whatever it is, it certainly has Mittenwald-style corner blocks and lining ends.
Lisa Chamberlain Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 Could the linings have been replaced or altered when the damaged areas were repaired? Either it’s newer or oddly clean.
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 7 hours ago, Violadamore said: You didn't show us the outer lower bout sidewall at the endpin. Is it continuous? The edge view looks like it might be. No, the lower bout is not continuous. 1 hour ago, Chamberlain said: Could the linings have been replaced or altered when the damaged areas were repaired? Either it’s newer or oddly clean. No, the linings and the blocks are original. The violin has never been opened before, only now by me. The interior work is very nice, I think.
Blank face Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 It doesn't really fit into one of the common categories, though I'm seeing certainly some Markneukirchen style features, except the rib construction (which isn't Mittenwald alike neither, as already mentioned). The rib ends mitred into upper and lower blocks one sees sometimes at Czech or other Eastern European instruments, so it might be something related to there. Otherwise building styles floated during the 2nd half of the 20th century (to avoid the PW term) across all borders, so it will be hard to tell where exactly it was made. The use of "recycled" damaged wood can point towards an outlier like an autodidact or hobbyist.
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 I don't think anyone used recycled damaged wood on this violin... Someone probably dropped the violin or something similar. The damage was on the same side of the top and back. I have rarely seen such beautifully clean work on the linings. Even in the blocks the lining is rounded. Do you know what I mean? (Picture 18, 20, 30, 31)
Blank face Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 27 minutes ago, amateur.geigenbau said: I don't think anyone used recycled damaged wood on this violin... Someone probably dropped the violin or something similar. The damage was on the same side of the top and back. I have rarely seen such beautifully clean work on the linings. Even in the blocks the lining is rounded. Do you know what I mean? (Picture 18, 20, 30, 31) It’s not very logical to say that the violin wasn’t open ever before, but to claim at the same time that internal patches were added as a later repair. Also the very clean inside work could point towards someone who has too much time at hand to be a professional maker. But that is just my opinion.
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 10 hours ago, Blank face said: It’s not very logical to say that the violin wasn’t open ever before, but to claim at the same time that internal patches were added as a later repair. I attached internal patches to the button (at the top block). I repaired the cracks, etc. When you open a violin (and often before), you can tell whether the violin has already been opened. 10 hours ago, Blank face said: Also the very clan inside work could point towards someone who has too much time at hand to be a professional maker. But that is just my opinion. A really, really good violin maker takes time for the interior work and makes everything beautiful - that's my opinion.
HoGo Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 24 minutes ago, amateur.geigenbau said: I attached internal patches to the top block. I repaired the cracks, etc. When you open a violin (and often before), you can tell whether the violin has already been opened. Did you do the back repair as well? Looks like it was bitten by Dracula . The two visible dots in the top and hole just opposite on back. The bass bar looks quite low with squarish crossection.
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 8 minutes ago, HoGo said: Did you do the back repair as well? Looks like it was bitten by Dracula . The two visible dots in the top and hole just opposite on back. The bass bar looks quite low with squarish crossection. Yes, the violin had some holes (originally filled with glue or varnish) which I filled with wood...
Blank face Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 10 hours ago, amateur.geigenbau said: I attached internal patches to the top block. I repaired the cracks, etc Maybe you should have mentioned that before. So I would still think something from the Czech/East European tradition.
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 4 hours ago, Blank face said: Maybe you should have mentioned that before. So I would still think something from the Czech/East European tradition. Sorry. I thought it was clear that I made the repairs if the violin had never been opened before.
nathan slobodkin Posted June 5 Report Posted June 5 On 6/4/2026 at 2:50 AM, Blank face said: It’s not very logical to say that the violin wasn’t open ever before, but to claim at the same time that internal patches were added as a later repair. Also the very clean inside work could point towards someone who has too much time at hand to be a professional maker. But that is just my opinion. On 6/4/2026 at 2:57 AM, amateur.geigenbau said: I attached internal patches to the button (at the top block). I repaired the cracks, etc. When you open a violin (and often before), you can tell whether the violin has already been opened. A really, really good violin maker takes time for the interior work and makes everything beautiful - that's my opinion. Ever look inside an Amati? Some of the most beautiful violins in existence with the corner blocks finished with three quick chops of a gouge.
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 5 Author Report Posted June 5 4 hours ago, nathan slobodkin said: Ever look inside an Amati? Some of the most beautiful violins in existence with the corner blocks finished with three quick chops of a gouge. Yes, okay, you're right. In the 18th century there were many who did not make the violin beautiful from the inside (Guarneri, Amati...). I have found that instruments that were made in the last 50-80 years and are really good are also cleanly finished on the inside.
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 11 Author Report Posted June 11 I got so many different opinions about the violin. The following countries were considered for origin: Germany (Markneukirchen, Mittenwald), Czech Republic, Italy, France, Hungary, Romania, China...
amateur.geigenbau Posted June 23 Author Report Posted June 23 Does anyone have any other ideas about the violin?
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