Books › Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883 › scan 119
Scan 119
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
4 lines. Read by computer on 30 September 2026. Printed page 105. See the scan on archive.org.
1carry desolation into three otherwise happy homes, the responsibility rests with the German doctors.
3The best general description extant of genuine Stainer violins was given by Jacob Augustus Otto, in his treatise on the violin, a most excellent translation of which, by Mr. Bishop, of Cheltenham, is published by Messrs. Cocks and Co., and has passed through several editions. The principal points in this description are as follow: "Perhaps the most accurate comparison which can be drawn between the two is that the tone of a Cremonese violin resembles that of a clarionet, whilst the tone of a Stainer is similar to that of a flute. The belly is modelled higher than the back, and the height of the belly, where the bridge stands, is equally maintained for half the length of the instrument to the lower or broad part (under the tail-piece), where it then diminishes down to the end edge. The breadth of this raised part is about the same as that of the bridge itself, and then it falls off towards the edges. The model is precisely similar towards the neck and on the broad part (beneath the finger-board). The edges are very strong and round, and the purfling, which is narrower than in the Cremonese (in which it is very broad), lies rather nearer the edges than in those instruments. The sound holes, which are rather shorter than in the Cremona instruments, are beautifully formed, and their upper and lower turns are perfectly circular" (see illustration in Frontispiece, Jacob Stainer). "The neck is particularly handsome, and the scroll as round and smooth as if it had been turned. Some are finished with lions' heads, which are admirably carved. The sides and backs are made of the finest figured
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.