Scan 46
A Review Of Ancient And Modern Violin Making, 1899
6 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1never for a moment blamed themselves. They could not have inquired very closely into the work of the old makers or they would have found that they also labored under the same difficulty.
3Just when varnish was first considered of such vital importance is a matter of conjecture. It was evidently not of rapid growth, but when it was finally accepted they gave it their full, unwavering confidence. I have found nothing that would lead me to think the old makers regarded it as any benefit aside from beauty, but rather as a detrimental necessity. It was not until after varnish had been surrounded with mystery that it became the supposed chief factor. If one can manage to attach a little mystery to the most commonplace object, it at once assumes most wonderful proportions.
5It is highly probable that at the beginning of what we call the "modern period," the makers used the same varnish that the Cremona makers did. Of course there is no positive evidence of this, neither is there any proof to the contrary; but I am satisfied that when the conditions and circumstances surrounding the two periods are fully understood my opinion
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