Walking-Stick Violin
Walking-stick instruments of all varieties were popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Novelty walking sticks, which might include umbrellas, flasks, guns, musical instruments, or other items were fashionable accessories for gentlemen of all ages. Flutes and violins were the most popular instrument walking sticks. A nearly identical model to this example was advertised as a "cane violin" by C. Bruno & Son (New York) in their 1903-04 catalog for $20.00.
Technical description: Elongated, turned mahogany shell with nickel-silver tip and 3 nickel-silver ferrules, lowest ferrule attached below internal watch-key tuning device with lateral metal tuning pins, sliding middle ferrule secures separate cover piece, top ferrule attached to separate removable curved handle that serves as chinrest and unscrews to expose bow compartment; conventional (small) ebony nut, fingerboard and tailpiece; violin has slightly arched spruce top with flame soundholes between smaller circular and star-shaped soundholes; bridge position marked by scratch lines.
Technical description: Elongated, turned mahogany shell with nickel-silver tip and 3 nickel-silver ferrules, lowest ferrule attached below internal watch-key tuning device with lateral metal tuning pins, sliding middle ferrule secures separate cover piece, top ferrule attached to separate removable curved handle that serves as chinrest and unscrews to expose bow compartment; conventional (small) ebony nut, fingerboard and tailpiece; violin has slightly arched spruce top with flame soundholes between smaller circular and star-shaped soundholes; bridge position marked by scratch lines.
Artwork Details
- Title: Walking-Stick Violin
- Date: ca. 1900
- Geography: Germany?
- Culture: probably German
- Medium: Wood, metal
- Dimensions: Total L. approx. 91 cm (35-15/16 in.) String L. approx. 32.5 cm (12-7/16 in.)
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-bowed-unfretted
- Credit Line: Gift of Miss Alice Getty, 1946
- Object Number: 46.34.60
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Joachim Tielke
ca. 1685
Joachim Tielke
ca. 1685
Antonio Stradivari
1711
Antonio Stradivari
1693
Antonio Stradivari
1694
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.