Electric Violin

Victor A. Pfeil American, born Germany

ca. 1932

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684

In October 1928, Victor Pfeil applied for a patent on his design for an electric violin. He used a coil pickup that converted the strings’ vibration into an electric signal that was transmitted to a radio speaker. Like the strohviol, his design dispensed with the traditional violin-shaped body. Pfeil never mass-produced his instruments, and few survive.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Electric Violin
Maker: Victor A. Pfeil (American (born Germany), 1900–1978 New Jersey)
Date: ca. 1932
Geography: United States
Culture: American
Medium: Painted wood
Dimensions: 23 7/8 × 5 11/16 × 3 9/16 in. (60.6 × 14.5 × 9.1 cm)
(Depth including bridge)
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-bowed-unfretted
Credit Line: Gift of Lubove and LuAnn Schnable, 2003
Object Number: 2003.604.1a–c
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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