Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 228
Scan 228
the history of the violin, 1864
2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 206. See the scan on archive.org.
1monen, Andreas fil: F. 1592." At the sale of the instruments of Sir Wm. Curtis there were two violoncellos and a tenor by these makers. One of the violoncellos, Lot 10, was stated by the auctioneer, in the catalogue, to be "undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and finely toned instruments ever manufactured by these distinguished artists, and is, moreover, in the highest state of brilliant preservation." We have never seen any instrument with such brilliant and golden varnish. It can only be compared with a new gold coin in which an alloy of copper has been used, and which imparts a depth of colouring so different from the undefined colour of this coin in which silver has been used as the alloy. It was put up at 150 guineas, and bought in for 135. The Rev. Sir Frederick Gore Ouseley had in his possession, in 1859, a viola made by these makers for the noble family of Radetti at Venice, with their arms emblazoned on the back; it was purchased from them by General Kyd, in 1793, and given by him subsequently to Sir Frederick's father, so that the pedigree is undoubted. It was altered and reduced in size for General Kyd, in 1811, by Dodd, of St. Martin's Lane. The printed ticket is, "Antonius et Hieronymus Fr. Amati Cremonen Andreæ fil. F. 1620." This instrument has been reduced in size, both at the fore and hind ends; it has also been made narrower by cutting pieces out from the joint lines the whole length of the upper and lower plates. The wood of the lower plate is not cut the usual way with the figure and grain prominent, but at right angles with the medullary rays of the wood, which, crossing the direction of the fibres of the wood, form what is known as the silver grain. It is made of a species of maple (Acer pseudo-platanus), and the sides are of the same wood, and the grain is the right or usual way; the head and
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