Gemünder "Art" Violin

This violin was made by Oscar A. Gemünder in New York, New York in 1936. The New York City violinmaking firm of August Gemünder was founded in 1866 and renamed August Gemünder & Sons in 1890 as three of his sons, August II (1862-1928), Rudolph (1865-1916) and Oscar (1872-1946), entered the business. August II became president of the firm and founded and edited a journal called Violin World, which the firm published until his death in1928. Oscar, whose signature is on the label of this violin, then ran August Gemünder & Sons, which closed permanently upon his death in 1946. August Gemünder & Sons was well known for its inexpensive line of "Gemünder Art" violins, mostly German instruments which were reworked and varnished in New York. The firm advertised that a special "Vibrant" varnish was applied in colors of orange-yellow, orange-red, deep red, reddish brown and brown red. Also, the "Art" violins were available in six models: Maggini, N. Amati, H. Amati, Stradivari, Joseph Guarneri and the Gemünder model of 1905. In addition, the company sold August Gemünder & Sons bows. Through its early history, the firm was commercially successful, with an enterprising focus on merchandising and advertising.

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