A very attractive German violin of the Markneukirchen school Labelled ‘Eugene Meinel’ dated 1922. The back plate is of one piece of narrow regularly flamed maple with the figure running horizontally; the sides and head of similar wood; the top plate of fine straight grained tonewood; the varnish of a red-brown colour, laid over a golden ground, and applied in a shaded pattern. LOB 357mm.

Meinel was a common surname in Saxony in violin making circles, but we find no record of a ‘Eugene’ in the 1920’s. The violin is indicative of the fine work that emanated from this centre around this period so it’s possible that this violin is a workshop homage to the earlier ‘Eugen Meinel’ who may have been a family member from the previous century.

This is a lovely looking instrument, clearly produced by polished artisans. It punches above its weight for sound both in quality and projection.  It would be ideally suited to the advancing or advanced student.

Reference: VN.1341