The morning call., 1890-04-11
A RARE OLD VIOLIN.
An Instrument of Intrinsic and
Historic Value.
stainer That Has Roamed Around Consider
ably-A Few Points About the
Old Violin-Maker.

"A magnlncent Yl0linP' The instrument
that evoked that exclamation was n beauti
full old Stainer in a state of excellent pres
ervation, with tone that was truly royal.
1T has been constant source of pleasure
and delight to me for the last forty or fifty
years." said its fortunate possessOr, Nj.
William Cullen, well-known resident of
South Park. 1t has been wherever |
roamed. and was my constant companion
when was away up north in the Carbon
region, one of the mos desolate on the face
of the earth. Just listen to It's full, rich
tones" he remarked, as he asked Professor
Liehert to display its marvellous beauties of
tone.
The Professor obligingly complied by
giving some selections from I'll Troya-
tore" and the Bohemian Girl" with ex-
quisite tenderness. Then he played a
lively waltz and another brilliant operate
selection, concluding with display of har-
monies that brought out the wonderfully
rich tones of the old violin. The mellow
v0x humana of its bass string, the aute-like
sweetness of its third and the ringing
brilliancy OF its upper register were such as
to convince the hearers of the truthfulness
of the oft-repeated declaration that the
violin was the monarch Of all musical in
struments.
AN HISTORICAL INSTRUMENT.
"That violin is an historical one" con-
tinued Mr.. Cullen, during lulI in the
melodious concert. General Dundas com
manded the British forces at the town of
Baltlnglass, County Wicklow, Ireland, In
179S-these facts L have from my father,
who was then young mainland the
British fought battle with the United
lrishmen IN the neighbnrhooi Of Kill
rannan, two miles from Baltinglass, where
young English officer. the owner of the
violin, was wounded during the engage
ment, so severely that he could not be re-
moved any distance, and was carried to a
farmhouse in the neighburhOOd. | don't
know his name tor 1t was before my time
The young officer fingered for three mouths
and died. Before dying, he made present
Of this old violin to the young folks of the
family on account of their kindness during
his illness, at the same time calling at
tention to its age and value. These young
folks were hrst cousins OF my father, and
the violin remained in their possession
until L became young man. was then a
resident of Dublin, and successfully nego-
tiated with my klnsmen for this old instru-
ment, and they gave it to me partly be-
cause L was member of the family. /
purchased it in 1910, and now have had it
for fifty years. l have had repeated offers
to dispose of the old violin, but fully ap-
preciate its beauties and would not part
with It fer anything, though l have Oe-
caslonally permitted its use in concerts"
The fortunate owner then played some
familiar old Irish melodies that gave u
further insight into the beauties of its tone
The instrument is in an excellent state of
preservation, the original neck and all,
still, however, bearing evidences of great
age in the little depressiOns worn in the
wood by the hands IF those fortunate
enough to play upon it. The old varnish is
translucent in appearance, and gives 10 the
surface the resemblance OF rich old paint
ing.
sTAINER AS A MAKER.
Jacob Stainer. or Steiner, the founder of
the Tyrolese School of violin makers, was
born about the year 1920 at Absem village
of the Tyrol, situated short distance from
Innsbruck, the capital. Tradition reports
that in his earlier years he became the pupil
of Anthony, and afterward, Nicholas Amati;
but his violins certainly bear much greater
resem blance to those of the brothers An
th0ny and Jerome than they do to those Of
Nicholas, although they have that unmis-
taxable German appearance in their details.
The instruments of this maker have been
classed i'll three distinct epOchs, and there
Is every reason TO believe that he adopted
three different sizes of build a large, a
medium and small. His first instruments
were of small dimensions, with short and
narrow 4 holes, having lofty archings, while
the heads and scrolls were of diminished
proportions, but of beautiful finish. Those
early instruments are now of the utmost
rarity and bore labels inscribed in his own
handwriting, and were dated from Cremona.
About the commencement of his second
epoch he married the daughter of Anthony
Amati, and this period Of his life was
marked by misfortune, genuine art having
sueeumbed to carelessness, whilst poverty,
in all its icy GOODNESS, surrounded his home
circle, compelling him to travel with his
now crude and imperfect instruments
which he gladly. but with difficulty, dis
posed of, for the dimInutive sum of six for
ms. During this, his second epoch, he re-
turned from Cremona to his native town,
Absom, where he hastily manufactured a
vast number of instruments. Most of the
viOlins of this period were of very inferior
quality and bore little or no trace OF the
hand of genius. They contained printed
labels and were dated from 1860 to 1867. Ii
is related that during part of this epoch
his brother Mark, who was a monk, fire.
quently chose to exchange the mon0t0nOus
routine and retirement of the cloister for
the practical operations of the workshop
and thus aSsidu0usly assisted HIM in his
labors.
HE EARNS FAME.
Now again, however. the dying embers of
genius are fortunately famed into flame,
which bursts afresh with redoubled effu-
genee, and fame now VIGOROUSLY crowns
him with its never dying laurels His
yiOIns were made with extreme care, seye-
mented with the heads of lions and other
animals, whilst the varnish appears as
limpId coating of reddish-brown crystal
A few of these violins may be included in
the latter part of his second period, during
which the instruments bore printed labels.
His wife having now died, it is related
that he entered the SolitudeS of a Benedic-
tine convent there not only TO adhere To
the Scrupulously strict duties of an ascetie
life, but also to distinguish himself by the
POmnlptinn 0f nnmb her Of Instruments
which have been pronounced by all judges
as masterpieces of genius. Through the
kindness OF the Superior he was enabled to
obtain wood OF pre-eminent merits for the
construction of these instruments. which
have been known by the name of EleetOr-
Stainers, from the fact that twelve
of these violfns were presented 10
the twelve electors of the empire and
four to the Emperor. These instru-
ments were all that could well be desired
both in finish and quality. These superior
violins characterize his third period. No
records are known to exist containing par
ticulars relating when or where this
esteemed maker died.
PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS.
The yiolins of Stainer may be generally
described thus: The round outlines, as
we'll as the scroll, C's and F holes, are deli
eately harmonious, symmetrical and pleas
ant in appearance, showing the artistic
finish of tasteful workman; but this ex-
cellence always retains q portion of his
national characteristics, as the + holes and
C's are shorter, and the exquisitely cut
head is smaller, though more deeply carved
out, than in the Italian instruments. The
purtiing is beautifully and finely laid in,
aud is of medium breadth. 1t lies near the
outer edge, which is angular and very
finely wrought, but gives to the violin a
rather light appearance. The arching is
high and springs rather more abruptly to the
cen ter than that of the Amati; they are
scooped out all around the sides between
the purfiing and the spring of the arching.
The woods employed are of excellent
quality. The back is usually "sIab" or
"half-slab," and the curl gorgeously mixed,
which lends charm to their fine appear
ance; the rims or sides are of the same
quality, the tabe-wood is usually of re-
markably fine pine. very close in the reed
or grain. The varniSh is from & golden to
rnddich nr.h int Iirrht