This illustration of an Antonio Mariani, Pesaro violin was published in The Strad, July 1916. The following text is extracted from the article accompanying the photographs:
The instrument here illustrated has a remarkably fine tone, despite the inelegant and somewhat primitive design which characterises the work of Mariani. It is a thoroughly typical specimen, both in form and details, with the exception of the purfling, which is single, contrary to what seems to have been the maker’s more usual practice.
The violin is very well preserved; the belly of excellent even grained pine, and the back and sides made of plain material. Like many of the instruments in its class, it bears a Maggini label though any real resemblance to the violins of that maker are sufficiently remote. The outline is quite distinct from the typical outline of Maggini, the corners being much more pronounced, and the waist stiff and straight-looking.
The soundholes are set very upright and there is no wing or ‘straight cut’ at their upper and lower turns, the type being that known as ‘Brescian’. The absence of the straight cut does not, according to my observations, occur in all the instruments of Mariani.
The varnish as seen today may be described as of a warm yellow-brown colour akin to that seen on Brescian and other Italian work.
The body measures 14 ¼ inches in length; 6 ¾ inches across the upper bouts; 8 1/8th inches over the lower bouts; and the sides are 1 1/8th to 1 3/16th inches high.
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