Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 229
Scan 229
the history of the violin, 1864
2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 207. See the scan on archive.org.
1neck are also made of maple wood. The varnish is of a brownish yellow tint, with a fine yellow ground; the vehicle must have been very thin, as there is little body of colour, although it is rich, but age may have assisted in this particular. It is now the property of Mr. Richard Blagrove. Hieronymus Amati had two patterns, of which the largest is considered the best. The sides are strong and well finished, and then tapering from the hind-bout to the fore-bout, where the neck is attached, thus giving a graceful appearance. The edges are obtuse, and do not overlap much; the upper plate is of fine deal, of regular grain, and is raised gradually about an inch from the sides to the centre; the S S holes well cut, but somewhat narrow, with their higher points approaching. The lower plates made generally of one piece, and, together with the sides and neck, of beautiful maple, the figure running from right to left somewhat sloping. The volute, or scroll, is handsome, and rounded with the greatest care. The varnish is of yellow amber, with a mixture of light brownish tinge. The purfling broad, as is the case with most of the Italian instruments, giving an appearance of the finest construction; while the school of Cremona is known by having a particular bend in the purfling, and that of Brescia by having a double purfling. The tone of these instruments is fine, the second string brilliant, the third full and round, the fourth powerful, but the first sometimes a little thin. This Hieronymus Amati is said to have died about 1638. Hill states that our Queen has a fine viola of his make. There is a Joseph Amati mentioned at Bologna in the beginning of the seventeenth century as one of the family, who made basses and violins possessing a silvery tone, which are now very scarce; he used the Amati varnish.
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