Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1876
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Calvin Baker
The Violin
Calvin Baker made this violin in Boston around 1876, and it remains in excellent condition. Shaded red to golden-brown varnish covers gorgeous American timber. That combination marks Baker’s best work.
The tone is soloistic, rich and warm. This Calvin Baker violin has the presence to carry solo repertoire. The back measures 35.5 cm.
Nearly 150 years later, the original materials and workmanship still show. Because of that, this Calvin Baker violin remains a fully capable instrument for today’s players rather than a museum piece. The edges, corners and purfling stay crisp, which tells you owners played it rather than abused it.
For anyone interested in American violin history, it is a wonderful example of 19th-century Boston craftsmanship. Also, its long history of use has only deepened the voice. This Calvin Baker violin stands as a fine representative of the American making tradition.
The Maker
Calvin Baker worked in Boston, Massachusetts from about 1862 to 1915. A. W. White later employed him, and he went on to become chief repairer at Thompson and Odell. Both firms ranked among the city’s established music houses.
The numbering on his labels suggests he made more than five hundred instruments. He worked on Stradivari and Amati models, and he also used a personal model of broad pattern with long corners.
Boston was one of the leading music cities in 19th-century America. So a Calvin Baker violin shows the craftsmanship that grew up around its orchestras, its teachers and its music houses. Instruments from that circle rarely travel west, so one reaching Los Angeles is worth noting.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.