An Interesting Violin, Possibly Italian, Circa 1960.

With a back length of 362mm, this long pattern Brescian inspired violin is somewhat of a mystery. Commercial violins of this size after Da Salo are typically German, and sometimes French, but never nearing this quality of materials and precision in craftsmanship. To that end, the slab cut maple back has characteristics in the figuration and grain typically seen in lumber from the Po Valley. While this is by no means definitive in any sense, the violin was purchased new in 1960 by an American family living in Italy, just outside Genoa. There is no label in the belly, nor any other means of attribution written anywhere inside. More curious still, it appears to have been built using an outside mold, which dissuades me from seriously considering a German provenance. Generally speaking, work of this quality from Germany is easy to identify, and rather different characteristically in a variety of aspects. Nonetheless, an excellent violin.