Was digging around on the web and came across a violin with the head craved as a Lion. Looked pretty cool, so I did a bit more searching and found another that was carved as a dragon. Got me thinking. What is the most interesting violin head you've seen?
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. ;)
Now there's a violin with ATTITUDE!!!
Check the web site for Tulsa strings. He has one there of a mans face its amazing.
Julie
I knew someone when I was in school tnat played a viola with an ET head.
-M
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!"
Hi Nathan welcome! I think I'd rather look at the likeness of Franz Liszt than ET.
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.
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.
Snakehead. Seems so obviously a good idea, but I hadn't seen one before, so I made it for my personal fiddle.
Raphael, there's a violin on display at David Segal's with the Statue of Liberty head scroll!
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.
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!)
I've seen a mermaid, a girl head with braid, a chinese dragon head and a orge(not pretty, it was a bass anyway)
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.
..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.
Nathan,David and Don, any chance you could post photos?
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.
"Nathan,David and Don, any chance you could post photos?"
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Oh dear. How will Laurie respond if I post pictures of violin bow porn? LOL
Photos posted at:
http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=322928&view=findpost&p=494157
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.
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
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 byThis discussion has been archived and is no longer accepting responses.
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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.