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Historic Costume | Fine and Decorative Arts
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Violin
Object/Artifact
One violin originally owned by Erastus and Julia Hyde, first residents of the octagon house in the Village. The violin was made in Czechoslovakia c.1890 and bears an illegible repair label. It has a two piece maple back of narrow flame, horizontal with ribs of narrower flame. The top is of mostly narrow straight grain spruce and the varnish is an antiqued red brown. It has new parts such as a chin rest, bow, modern strings, etc.
2005.061.1
The violin is a stringed instrument. The violin base is held between the chin and shoulder and a bow is used to slide across the strings causing them to vibrate and transmit sound to the soundboard. Fingers are used at the top of the instrument to press the strings in a variety of combinations to create music. It was one of the most widespread instruments of the 19th century and could be found in many households regardless of class or wealth. Julia and Erastus Hyde built the octagon house in Friendship, New York about 1860 and it now sits in our Village. The Hyde's had a deep love of music with Julia having graduated from the Allegany Academy of Music in 1869 and she taught music lessons most of her life. Originally a set of two, Julia and Erastus Hyde would sit on their porch in the evenings and play them together. This violin can be seen in the Hyde House (Octagon House) parlor as can Julia Hyde's diploma from music school.
Genesee Country Village and Museum
1890 - 1900
Czech Republic.
Central Europe
Europe
1-1/2 in
8-1/4 in
23-1/2 in
From the appraisal: Length: 35.8 cm UB 16.8 cm MB 11.4 cm LB 21.1 cm
Maple
Spruce
Metal
Hyde, Julia E. Watson
Hyde, Erastus C., 1844-