Walking-Stick Violin

Unknown

ca. 1900 · Wood, metal · Musical Instruments

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.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1900

Medium

Wood, metal

Culture

probably German

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Miss Alice Getty, 1946