Violin by Johann Georg Meisel, Klingenthal, Saxony, 1785

NMM 6052. Violin by Johann Georg Meisel (1765-1860), Klingenthal, Saxony, 1785. Gift of Kurt Lothar and Patricia A. Meisel, 1997.

Inscriptions:

• Printed paper label, the year written in black ink: Johann Georg Meiſel / Violinmacher in Klingenthal / 1785.
• Scratched on back, nearly polished out: [illegible] Ferdinand / [illegible]
• Printed in brown ink on scroll-shaped paper label, the certificate number written in black ink: OSKAR ERICH HEINEL / [illustration of wax seal containing a shield with a violin above a bar sinister, the initials O. E. / H. under the bar sinister, the shield topped with a knight’s helmet] MARKNEUKIRCHEN / Expertise No. 1336.
• Stamped on lower rib, between back and endpin, each digit a separate die: 1896
• Branded on bridge toward tailpiece: K.L.MEISEL
• Branded on bridge toward fingerboard: OWATONNA/MINN.

Top:  two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: wide grain; large wooden dowel through top into top block on bass side of center joint; large wooden dowel through top into bottom block on bass side of center joint.

Back:  one-piece, quarter-cut maple: large, strongly visible ray flecks; notch on inside lower edge at center position; hole in lower edge filled with maple dowel, under original varnish; later crescent-shaped ebony cap over top edge of button.

Ribs:  quarter-cut maple: prominent, medium to wide curl, angled to right on bass lower bout, angled to left on bass treble bout.

Head: maple: strongly visible ray flecks.

Neck:  maple: narrow curl; grafted.

Arching: full at center bouts.

Purfling: forms decorative point on back extending into button.

Varnish:  dark red-brown.

Fingerboard: ebony; later.

Nut: ebony; later.

Tailpiece: ebony; decoratively molded upper edge without saddle; decorative grooves carved on face at lower end; copper lyre inlaid in face; later.

Tailgut: black plastic.

Pegs: four rosewood with ebony pins; convex, undercut heads; by Emil Lorenz, Bubenreuth, originally from Schönbach.

Saddle: ebony; later.

Endpin: ebony; tuned groove around edge; later.

F-holes: curved and tapered wings.

Linings: spruce; narrow; rounded; some later, higher linings.

Corner blocks: spruce; later.

Top block: spruce; later.

Bottom block: spruce; later.

Bassbar: later.

Other: saw marks visible on outside of center ribs.

Lit.:  Julie Kucaj, "Lothar Meisel," Arts & Minds., Bravo! News Style Arts Channel, Toronto, January 30-31, 2003.

K. Lothar Meisel with Betty Vos, The Meisel Family Violin Makers:  Klingenthal, Vogtland, Saxony (Ely, Minnesota: Singing River Publications, Inc., 2007), pp. 54-57.

The NMM preserves violins from each of eight generations of the Meisel family.

National Music Museum
The University of South Dakota
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