Object Details
maker
Friedrich, John
Description
This violin was made by John Friedrich in New York, New York in 1903. Friedrich was born in Kassel, Germany in 1858 and studied violin making from 1875-1883 in Kassel, Stuttgart, Leipzig. He later studied in Berlin with Otto Möckel, a well-known master and authority of his time. Friedrich immigrated to New York in 1883, establishing with his brother William the firm of John Friedrich & Bros. His work was highly regarded and he won the highest award for his exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and at the St. Louis World's Exposition in 1904. After a lifetime output of roughly 300 instruments, he died in 1943 at the age of 85. The violin is made of a two-piece table of spruce, one-piece back of maple with even medium-fine figure descending to the right, ribs of similar maple, complementary maple neck, pegbox and scroll, and orange-brown varnish shaded to imitate age and wear.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Laurence C. Witten II
date made
1903
ID Number
1979.0647.01
accession number
1979.0647
catalog number
1979.0647.01
Object Name
violin
Physical Description
spruce (table material)
maple (back material)
Measurements
overall: 23 5/8 in x 8 1/4 in x 3 3/8 in; 60.0075 cm x 20.955 cm x 8.5725 cm
Place Made
United States: New York, New York City
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Violins
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_605485