Topic: What do I got here?

[tarisiosfever]

As you may imagine, I love to see my violins posted and I appreciate when the mates help me learn and identify them (authentication is a real nightmare; the more you see photos of violins the more you understand that makers love to modify their patterns and archings), and I love to see other's violins photographs and I suppose this feeling is common to all the members here...that said, I don't want to annoy anybody by starting several different threads, one for each instrument, so I thought it would be a good idea to start a "sticky" thread for every member that wishes to post a humble candidate for ID...if ever an interesting violin comes around, the moderator or admin. could split the thread, right? 


For example I received recently this unlabelled, dirty and damaged very beautiful old violin that is waiting for restoration (I'll send it to my luthier as soon as he finishes my "Gagliano" and my "Tyrolean"). Someone let it fall down and the case did not protect it, so the lower rib exploded and a big crack appeared on the soul's longitude  The rest (save the corners) of the violin is OK. It has good woods. The Guarneri pattern and arching are very elegant. The soundholes are the most beautiful I've seen in vivo.
The more I look at it the more I fall in love with it...

[tarisiosfever]

The one piece back:



Edit: the sides are 30mm all around and the lower rib is continuous with a wedge mark, on the bottom only, which shows the center. The neck graft is real not fake, made in "modern French style", as Petherick says...the fluting of the scroll on the lower aspect reaches the deepest it could reach at the "neck", over the pegbox (it does not stop half way as other germanic violins I own).
JT proposes the possibility of this being a Neuner&Hornsteiner violin, which I am studying now. The early N&H violins I've seen are of inferior workmanship compared to mine, but I guess they made an ample variety of qualities, mine being possibly a master level...

[tarisiosfever]

The beautiful head:

[tarisiosfever]

The sides of the head:

[tarisiosfever]

Anybody acquainted with Albert Nürnberger (II)'s early work?
This bow came with the possible "N&H" violin:



The previous owner seem to have been very fond of it. Look how the handle and frog are worn out.     I don't blame him: the stick is very strong and elastic and perfectly straight even after all this use and abuse.

[tarisiosfever]

Why do I got here?


This is the violin that I call "My Tyrolean", for lack of a better name. Could be also Viennese...who knows? It is a lovely, low weight, but robust and a little rough sounding, thin waisted 7/8 violin, with a "bad guy" look, hence the rough voice... Lovely sounding and with that feel of antique sound, very responsive.
I suppose the scroll will be identifiable for the experts.

[tarisiosfever]

It has a "Repariert" label from Schuster & Co. from 1903.

[tarisiosfever]

My luthier sent me some pictures of the supposed "Neuner&Hornsteiner" violin. They are not very defined but nevertheless, it can be seen (again) a replacement or doubling of the contour of the lower bouts and I am almost sure that a channel can be seen on the C and upper bouts...the channel pursues me 


Did "Neuner&Hornsteiner" work like that?

[tarisiosfever]

The back shows the linings set into the corner blocks and a massive upper block which is probably not original...

[JohnT]

Hi T,
I have a photograph of an almost mint (original) condition 1735 Guarneri del Gesu with a top block not too different in shape from the top block in your violin. It is more shallow, front to back, and not as wide.
Nice old fiddle you have there!

[tarisiosfever]

Hi dear JohnT,


Wow. Please post the photo. I still can stop the re-shaping of it...
I am waiting for new, better quality photos from the blocks. I hope there is a hole for the nail 


Looking at my violin is like looking to this one, so similar is the feeling...

[tarisiosfever]

Here, some photos of the interior of the old violin that I nicknamed the "King", just for identification purposes. 
Please note the existence of a cylindrical hole on the middle of the upper block of fancy shape...could it be the case that it marks the position of an original iron nail? Or, was the maker amusing himself on new ways to make economy on the violin's weight? 

[tarisiosfever]

The "King" is back...

[tarisiosfever]

One more:

[JohnT]

Hi T,
 
Thanks for the updated images, the varnish is much cleaner and clearer now.
My (still sleepy) eyes think they see Joseph Guarneri figlio Andrea, circa 1727.
Will check further to make certain, but the ffs look spot on.
(edit)
 
Please leave a wider border around the body when editing your images.
This will help if I need to adjust the position within the frame as I create side by side montages with other known specimens. Also remember to keep the violin at least 2 feet away from the back drop, this helps eliminate shadows. Very important!
 
John