Object Details
maker
Gragnani, Antonio
Description
This violin was made by Antonio Gragnani in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy in 1783. Working in Livorno, Antonio Gragnani (1740-1795) was one of the few Italian makers to utilize whalebone purfling. This violin has characteristic elongated Amati modeling, distinctive narrow extended pegbox with “compressed” scroll, and whalebone purfling. It retains the original neck, bass-bar and varnish in an outstanding state of preservation. This violin of a two-piece table of spruce, back of maple in two pieces cut on the quarter with very fine irregular horizontal figure, ribs of even medium-fine figured maple, an original neck, pegbox and scroll of fine figured maple similar to the back, and transparent orange-brown varnish.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Cora and Laurence C. Witten II
date made
1783
ID Number
1979.0173.01
catalog number
1979.0173.01
accession number
1979.0173
Object Name
violin
Physical Description
spruce (table material)
maple (back material)
Measurements
overall: 23 3/8 in x 8 1/8 in x 3 3/8 in; 59.3725 cm x 20.6375 cm x 8.5725 cm
Place Made
Italy: Tuscany, Livorno
Related Publication
George Frideric Handel. Eight Sonatas for Diverse Instruments
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_605498