American Violin Makers Before 1930: The Inspiration of Stradivari

This exhibition shows how the craft of violin-making developed in the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries through a combination of European immigration and skill and American ingenuity and spirit. On view are classical violins, violas, cellos, and other instruments from Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and other cities, illustrating the regional development and variations of the craft. Also on view are diagrams and tools involved in violin-making; catalogs and instruction booklets; bows, mutes, cases, and other violin accessories; and patented attempts to "improve" the sound of the instrument by using different shapes and materials and by adding horns.