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Gemünder "Art" Violin

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Gemunder, Oscar A.
Description
This violin was made by Oscar A. Gemünder in New York, New York in 1936. The New York City violinmaking firm of August Gemünder was founded in 1866 and renamed August Gemünder & Sons in 1890 as three of his sons, August II (1862-1928), Rudolph (1865-1916) and Oscar (1872-1946), entered the business. August II became president of the firm and founded and edited a journal called Violin World, which the firm published until his death in1928. Oscar, whose signature is on the label of this violin, then ran August Gemünder & Sons, which closed permanently upon his death in 1946. August Gemünder & Sons was well known for its inexpensive line of "Gemünder Art" violins, mostly German instruments which were reworked and varnished in New York. The firm advertised that a special "Vibrant" varnish was applied in colors of orange-yellow, orange-red, deep red, reddish brown and brown red. Also, the "Art" violins were available in six models: Maggini, N. Amati, H. Amati, Stradivari, Joseph Guarneri and the Gemünder model of 1905. In addition, the company sold August Gemünder & Sons bows. Through its early history, the firm was commercially successful, with an enterprising focus on merchandising and advertising.
Location
Currently not on view
1936
ID Number
1987.0263.01
catalog number
1987.0263.01
accession number
1987.0263
Object Name
violin
Measurements
overall: 23 3/4 in x 8 1/4 in x 3 3/8 in; 60.325 cm x 20.955 cm x 8.5725 cm
Place Made
United States: New York, New York City
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Violins
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_606106
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-4eae-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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