La Grange, Kentucky
Dale Brown

Matchsticks, glue, coffee, horse hair
ca. 1990s
Violin Length: 24in;  Bow Length: 25.5 in
Strings – Lutes – Violin Family

Inside he signed with his name ‘Dale Brown’ built from matchsticks.

A matchstick violin / fiddle and bow handcrafted by Dale Brown, a prisoner in the Kentucky State Prison, located in La Grange, Kentucky.  Dale taught himself to make violins out of the materials at hand at the prison, including matchsticks, glue, and coffee.  Then he taught himself how to play the instruments.  Inmates who make objects out of matchsticks, such as jewelry boxes, etc., called it ‘mush-fake.’  Brown first made violins, then mandolins, guitars and even banjos.  While he is behind bars, his instruments have traveled beyond the prison to art shows, art galleries, and is on display as part of the inaugural exhibit of Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum. It appeared that for Dale Brown, these instruments broke the silence of the prison walls.

This violin is smooth and shiny with a varnish of high gloss.  Inside it is signed with his name ‘Dale Brown’ also built from matchsticks.  Everything about this fiddle, including the tuning pegs, bridge, scroll, finger board, chinrest, pegbox and bow are completely made from matchsticks.

You can check out the life of Dale Brown on: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-12-03-1995337164-story.html