Mute Violin
This is an unusual and rare form of a "mute" or "practice" violin without a back or soundchamber. Even though it was made for private use, the instrument has a festooned body, a shield shaped head, and a carved geometrical rosette in a circular sound holes. Around the soundhole and corners are inlaid mother-of-pearl studs. The workmanship and decoration are rather crude, suggesting the instument was not built by a trained luthier.
Artwork Details
- Title: Mute Violin
- Date: 18th century
- Geography: Nürnberg, Germany
- Culture: German
- Medium: Wood, pearl
- Dimensions: Total Length: 20 in.
Width: 7-1/2 in. - Classification: Chordophone-Lute-bowed-unfretted
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.1564
- 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.
Jacob Schmidt (German, Nuremberg 1642–1720)
ca. 1710–20
Johann Wilhelm Haas (German, Nuremberg 1649–1723 Nuremberg)
late 17th century
Johann Wilhelm Oberlender (the Elder) (German, Nuremberg 1681–1763 Nuremberg)
mid-18th century
Johann Benedikt Gahn (German, Nuremberg 1674–1711 Nuremberg)
ca. 1700
Lorenz Hauslaib (German, Nuremberg 1568–1625 Regensburg)
1598
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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.