Uniquely Carved heads

January 7, 2012 at 11:52 PM · The only one I've actually seen (not in pictures) was a little cryptic -- I wasn't totally sure if it was a dragon or some sort of monkey. Interesting, but nothing I would want.

January 8, 2012 at 01:36 AM · There was a lion-headed scroll carved by Karl Bitterer (Mittenwald, Germany) on one of his violins that was positively enchanting.

In particular, the lion which faced the player when the instrument was held in playing position had a tongue, of separately carved ebony, that stuck out quite far, right at the player. ;)

January 8, 2012 at 01:41 AM · Now there's a violin with ATTITUDE!!!

January 8, 2012 at 02:20 AM · Check the web site for Tulsa strings. He has one there of a mans face its amazing.

Julie

January 8, 2012 at 07:54 PM · I knew someone when I was in school tnat played a viola with an ET head.

-M

January 9, 2012 at 04:40 AM · Hey y'all. I'm new here and thought I'd chime in on this thread.

At the risk of sounding disingenuous ... mine. The scroll is carved like the face of Franz Liszt, right down to his helmet hair. Talk about something intimidating to look at while you're trying to scratch out "Greensleaves!"

January 9, 2012 at 03:18 PM · Hi Nathan welcome! I think I'd rather look at the likeness of Franz Liszt than ET.

January 9, 2012 at 05:47 PM · One of my Ed Maday violins, at my request, has a lion's head. It has the tongue inside the mouth so it can't easily break off. It even has little teeth - if I don't play well, it can bite me! Besides that, and also at my request, it bears a Latin inscriotion along the ribs: IN MVSICA FELICITAS (in music happiness).

The most unusual head I've ever seen was on loan to a colleague from another contemporary maker, whose name I forgot. It is the head of the Statue of Liberty, spikes and all! It doesn't fit into a regular case; she had to keep it in a viola case.

January 9, 2012 at 05:49 PM · One of my Ed Maday violins, at my request, has a lion's head. It has the tongue inside the mouth so it can't easily break off. It even has little teeth - if I don't play well, it can bite me! Besides that, and also at my request, it bears a Latin inscription along the ribs: IN MVSICA FELICITAS (in music happiness).

The most unusual head I've ever seen was on loan to a colleague from another contemporary maker, whose name I forgot. It is the head of the Statue of Liberty, spikes and all! It doesn't fit into a regular case; she had to keep it in a viola case.

January 10, 2012 at 02:43 AM · Snakehead. Seems so obviously a good idea, but I hadn't seen one before, so I made it for my personal fiddle.

January 10, 2012 at 03:44 AM · Raphael, there's a violin on display at David Segal's with the Statue of Liberty head scroll!

January 10, 2012 at 03:46 AM · The most interesting twist I've seen so far was from a bow making colleague, who made a bow with the frog shaped like a frog, with the hair representing the tongue of the frog, reaching out to a tip shaped like a fly.

He has made other interesting things, like a "double" bass bow, but I'll save that for another time.

I also have ordered a "bow tit" from a trade supplier of bowmaking and repair supplies. I seem to remember that my order stemmed from a typo in his brochure (intended to be "bow tip"), but he is a hugely imaginative guy with an outrageous sense of humor, who specially made and sent a unique one-of-a-kind item which I will always treasure.

January 10, 2012 at 04:45 AM · Brian - I think that's the one!

(Sorry y'all for the doubling, btw. I went to fix a spelling mistake, as I often do, and the whole thing got replicated!)

January 10, 2012 at 03:15 PM · I've seen a mermaid, a girl head with braid, a chinese dragon head and a orge(not pretty, it was a bass anyway)

January 10, 2012 at 03:56 PM · A friend out here as an amazing bass with the head of a guy screaming in anguish instead of a scroll. It's perfect for long orchestra rehearsals.

January 10, 2012 at 05:24 PM · ..and especially for orchestral fiddlers, as I suggested already on another thread, instead of a scroll there needs to be a human hand, carved in a gesture of abuse. This to be directed towards the conductor at all times.

January 11, 2012 at 12:40 PM · Nathan,David and Don, any chance you could post photos?

January 11, 2012 at 05:42 PM · This is a great thread. There must be call out there for people who can carve wood like crazy but who would never be able to make a decent violin. They should be making scrolls on the tops of a good piece of neck stock and selling them to makers who don't have time for such things. Division of labor is, after all, the basis of civilization.

I want one in the shape of a human hand with the third finger raised in salute.

January 11, 2012 at 10:51 PM · "Nathan,David and Don, any chance you could post photos?"

___________________

Oh dear. How will Laurie respond if I post pictures of violin bow porn? LOL

January 12, 2012 at 10:21 PM · Photos posted at:

http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=322928&view=findpost&p=494157

January 13, 2012 at 06:01 AM · Here a cello scroll carved with the head of Ganesh.

http://www.lamario.ca/lamario2007-violoncelle.php?lang=english

The whole cello is very interesting.

The luthier, Mario LaMarre from Montreal won the gold medal for double bass at the VSA competition last year.

January 13, 2012 at 08:56 PM · Been doing more searching and come across a number of very interesting carvings. Even found people selling carved necks on Ebay! So far, the one that strikes me most is from the violin owned by Ole Bull (made by Gasparo da Salo). It has an angel head carved on the front of the head and a mermaid carved into the backside of the head