Violin Forum/Message Board

Jack Rushing · Member Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 170

Was wondering if there was a story behind the Ivory Nut on Paganini's
Cannone Violin? Was it there when he played it, or put on later when it
was modernized? I have seen several violins that were ivory trimmed,
but never an ivory nut.

Michael Darnton · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:45 am Post subject:

The best we can do, I think, is speculate. Ivory nuts aren't common on instruments surviving in original condition, and I'm inclined to think that while Paganini probably played on it, it wasn't original.

Andres Sender · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:05 pm Post subject:

They seem to appear a lot on instruments in transitional setup (see the National Music Museum website), so maybe it was relatively common for a while in the late 18th/early 19th c.
_________________
You can only connect the dots that you have.

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

Just curious... with current international treaties on Ivory, could this violin theoretically go on "tour" or is it stuck in Italy as long as that nut's on?

E

Andres Sender · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:37 am Post subject:

Good question. I don't remember the details of the law well enough, but after the horrible confiscation of some historically significant bows with tortoiseshell frogs which were shipped to an international exhibition by Tarisio based on bad advice, I hope that anyone involved will make doubly sure they know what they are doing if they try it.

On the other hand temporarily replacing the nut just for the trip would probably be very easy.
_________________
You can only connect the dots that you have.

Jack Rushing · Member Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 170

Golly, That is something to think about. Wonder what would happen if
some Country confiscated The Cannone, because of an ivory nut.
That would be be some kind of International crisis.