Saxony, Germany
Unknown

Wood, ebony
1870-1900 C.E.
Length: 23.75 in (total), Body length: 14.25 in, Width: 8 in
Strings – Lutes – Violin Family

Label inside reads: “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebad anno 1721” / a small logo within a drawn circle, featuring the initials “A.S.” below a cross.

This violin was made around 1870 in Saxony, Germany (Vogtland region).  The scroll is carved in the shape of a typical Saxon lion’s head, and the body is carved of light stained wood. There is dark purfling around the body, and the top is made of medium grained spruce, while the back is made of flamed maple in two pieces.  A label inside reads, “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebad anno 1721” with a small circular logo featuring initials “A.S.” below a cross (based on the material of the label, it is a Stradavarius copy made between 1870-1900).  It has a powerful, clear sound that is very strong, dark, and bright in the upper ranges

By the 1870’s, Markneukirchen, known as the “German Cremona,” alongside nearby Klingenthal, were towns that were world-renowned for their extensive expertise in stringed instrument construction.  Markneukirchen was transitioning from purely individual craftsmanship to larger scale “trade” production, where many skilled laborers worked from home, producing high-quality but affordable instruments for export, particularly to the United States.