Mute violin

A late 18th-century mute violin, re-necked in the 19th century. Carved from one piece of maple, with figure of faint curl, and with curved extensions top and bottom to imitate part of the outline of a violin; at the tail these stirrup-like pieces terminate in carved scrolls. The hollowed soundbox cavity in the waist of the instrument is only 156mm long and is covered by a slightly arched front, with a soundhole 21mm in diameter, ringed by two lines of purfling. Varnish golden-brown. Later neck and pegbox of conventional form with rosewood pegs.