Violin
Jakob Stainer
Absam, 1661

The greatest German violin maker, the Tyrolese Jacob Stainer based his style on an older German model characterized by a higher arching of the table and back. The perfection of his craftsmanship and the distinctive silvery tone of his instruments gained him a reputation that throughout the 18th century rivalled that of the great Cremonese makers. The end of that century saw a change in musical taste and playing style that favored the more powerful Cremonese model of Stradivari.

Label (handwritten): "Jacobus Stainer in Absam / prope oenipontum 1661".
One-piece back of birdseye maple; ribs of quartered maple of medium figure; scroll of wood similar to back; table of spruce of medium grain. Overal length: 58.3cm; length of body: 35.2cm.

Provenance: The Emil Herrmann Collection, Gift of Hugh W. Long
Accession No. 4738.1962