Nail Violin
The German violinist Johann Wilde invented the nail violin around 1740. The instrument consists of a wooden soundbox (circular or semicircular) and metal nails. Sound is produced by drawing a violin bow across the nails, creating bell-like tones. While it has limited capabilities, the instrument was popular in the eighteenth century and other makers built similar instruments in various forms. The body of this example is a half circle, with a blackened wooden frame and a varnished wooden soundboard.
Technical description: A C-shaped open arc of blackened, varnished wood with a varnished spruce "soundboard" attached over one side with 14 brass nails; between the edge of the soundboard and the outer circumference of the arc, 30 pins are driven to graduated heights, their flattened tops protected by a semicircular brass wire; a printed paper label glued around the side of the arc identifies each pin with a pitch letter and solfège syllable; natural pitches have straight vertical steel pins, accidental pins are brass, driven at a slight outward angle and bent inward just below the flattened tops. Played with a bow (missing). Range (not confirmed) C-F. (Linda Moot, 1978)
Technical description: A C-shaped open arc of blackened, varnished wood with a varnished spruce "soundboard" attached over one side with 14 brass nails; between the edge of the soundboard and the outer circumference of the arc, 30 pins are driven to graduated heights, their flattened tops protected by a semicircular brass wire; a printed paper label glued around the side of the arc identifies each pin with a pitch letter and solfège syllable; natural pitches have straight vertical steel pins, accidental pins are brass, driven at a slight outward angle and bent inward just below the flattened tops. Played with a bow (missing). Range (not confirmed) C-F. (Linda Moot, 1978)
Artwork Details
- Title: Nail Violin
- Date: early 19th century
- Geography: Germany
- Culture: German
- Medium: Wood, metal
- Dimensions: Total H. 13.5 cm., H. of wood arc and soundboard 4.7 cm., Diamter 23.5 cm.
- Classification: Idiophone-Friction
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.954
- 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.
Johann Wilhelm Oberlender (the Elder)
mid-18th century
Érard
George Henry Blake
ca. 1840
C.W. Moritz
ca. 1855
Giosue Esposito
1881
Italian or German
mid-19th century
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.