Scan 311
Joseph Guarnerius, his work and his master [Andreas Gisalberti], 1906
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 213. See the scan on archive.org.
1There are a few further remarks that may be made concerning the late types of Joseph's scrolls and necks, when the latter are entire, giving indication of their having been cut from a store of sycamore that had been bored by insects, or as it is commonly expressed had "got the worm in it." The storing of the sycamore, selected on account of its suitable quality in the judgment of Joseph a great number of years back, was, particularly in somewhat confined back premises, or in the small yard, very liable to such attacks, and as all violin makers are aware, the extent of the boring is frequently only discovered when much of the work has been accomplished, so Joseph working at his splendid figured sycamore, came upon unanticipated depredations of these nuisances to the liutaro, and was forced either to put aside the half carved back or scroll, or plug the holes. That this was the case is shown in several instances in which a hole has been plugged each side of the central line, the half table having been in the usual way sawn through and the thick sides brought together for joining, and thus disclosing holes each side level with each other.
3Other instances there are where Joseph has, on gouging the volutes of the scroll, come upon a number of holes clustered together, or confluent, but setting too high a value upon his work already done, he has preferred a considerable amount of plugging, to putting it aside as labour lost.
5The evidence of this treatment is in the fact that the varnish in its original state has been carried over the pluggings, which, moreover, have been done with pieces from the same log as the surrounding wood.
7The pine appears to be of the same quality as used by Joseph for many years, or throughout his career. The late works have pine with quite as much refinement of texture, and the acoustical properties are quite up to his old standard, if not a trifle in advance with regard to brilliancy, and what is known as "spreading quality."
9That these two qualities were the ones desirable
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