Violin

Lacquered violin of Chinese or Japanese manufacture. Dark brown lacquer all over front, back, ribs and fingerboard, with gilded ornament of birds, trees, and blossom; reddish ground under gilding with some slight embossing under flower centres and bird feathers. Front highly arched; f-shaped soundholes of crude outline without notches. Thick ribs built up and not bent, made of three pieces at middle bouts. No linings; the neck housing cut so that it is exposed at the back. Pegs of oriental appearance with plain heads and long shafts. Wide and compressed scroll with only slight protrusion of ears; deeply grooved nut. Replacement tailpiece; very low bridge.