Object Details
- Description
- This “Horn Violin” was patented by Sewall Short of New London, Connecticut in 1854 and received U.S. Patent number 10,867. The violin was made by Derazey in Mirecourt, France around 1850. Short’s patent application describes fitting a brass “horn” and pegbox to the body and neck of a normal violin. By hollowing the wooden neck, sound vibrations are transmitted from the body through the amplifying “horn.” The tone and power of the instrument was said to be much improved. The violin neck has been overlaid with brass for strength and is made of a table of one-piece spruce, one-piece maple back with irregular fine to broad horizontal figure, ribs of medium figured maple, brass covered maple neck and pegbox with attached “horn” bell, and an orange-brown varnish.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- 1854
- ID Number
- MI.251398
- accession number
- 48889
- catalog number
- 251398
- patent number
- 10,867
- Object Name
- violin
- Object Type
- Patent Model
- Physical Description
- spruce (table material)
- maple (back material)
- Measurements
- overall: 25 in x 8 1/4 in x 5 1/8 in; 63.5 cm x 20.955 cm x 13.0175 cm
- Place Made
- United States: Connecticut, New London
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Violins
- Patent Models
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_606744
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-4049-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
