Decorated Furber

Lovely decorated Furber violin, probably by Matthew II, c1815 (1772 - 1828), with diamond inlay to back. Unlabelled.

Typically small pattern, flat arching, "Strad" style.

Grain on spruce front varies from slightly wide at centre to very fine at edges.

Fluting into the edge work not exaggerated, starting approx 10mm from the edge.

Delightful, striking two-piece maple back, with diamond inlay to centre of back and V shaped inlays to top and bottom of plate. No locating pins. Extra wood added to edges of lower back to increase the width at the beginning of the making process. Tiny additions of wood added at the edges equidistant from the centre (again, repair to wood before the beginning of the making process?).

Extra long corners with purfling jointed centrally, ie both pieces of purfling cut the same length/angle and joined. Extra long sting appears to be scratched and filled with black (mastic?), directed into the centre.

Two piece lower ribs.

Ribs into corner joints and left very thin, slightly extended and glued slightly off-centre, pointing towards the C bouts.

No fluting evident on ff holes. Holes are quite circular rather than oval. Some pin holes marking position still visible. Lower wings not as wide as upper wings. Tiny knicks to mark stop length position. (Additional pin pricks at centre of front at bridge position - a later addition?)

Pin marks left visible on scroll, particularly around the eye.

Pegbox bulges from top nut from 24mm to 26mm before thinning to the head.

Linings appear to be pine, neatly finished.

Blocks pine.

Good quality replacement neck to allow for modern playing with neck graft and crown. Pegholes bushed.

Lovely blond/amber varnish on a golden ground. (Most likely redder to begin with). Plenty of deep red varnish remain visible at the edges of the back. Mostly original.

Excellent condition. Minor restorations to front and ribs, all firm, not soundpost or bass bar. Small bump to scroll; slightly bulged lower rib at chin rest area. Back centre joint studded internally; neat small oblong studs original to the making process.

Newly set-up with professionally cut bridge with rosewood and ebony fittings.

LOB: 350mm

Stop: 196mm

UB: 168mm

MB: 109mm

LB: 201mm

Rib Height: 30.9mm fairly even top to bottom.

Edge thickness: 3.2mm to 3.8mm at corners.

Purfling distance from edge 4.5mm.

Scroll length: 109mm, width 40.9mm.

36.5mm between top ff holes and 107mm between lower.

Neck length: Not original (136mm).