Poland
Handcrafted 

Woods, metal
ca.  Early 20th century
Total Length: 23.75 in; Body length: 14.88; Width: 8.38 in; Depth: 3 in
Lutes – Violin Family – Folk Fiddle

Inside written in the wood: MADE.EN / J. TARNOWSKI

An odd-shaped violin that is somewhat in the shape of the ‘Tiple’, a plucked lute from Puerto Rico, only this violin is much smaller and is both bowed and plucked.  The design of this string instrument is with a non-traditional outline, departing from the classic curved shoulder silhouette established during the 16th century by makers such as Andrea Amati.  Despite its unconventional appearance, it still adheres to core acoustic principles, using a spruce top and a nicely flamed maple back and sides to preserve the resonance.  The top scroll is carved in the shape of a long neck bird with MOP inlaid eyes and a short-extended beak.

This fiddle is signed inside in the wood by J. Tarnowski, a Polish name.  Historical records and modern context point to Polish luthiers and musicians potentially referencing the Tarnowski name as one of the contemporary makers from that area. 

This fiddle comes from the Fred and Estelle Spector Estate, Chicago, (Lincoln Park), Illinois. Fred played violin with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 47 years. His passion for music was reflected in his collection, which included violins and string instrument-related decorative arts as seen on this website.