19TH C. VIOLIN WITH SAILOR FOLK ART DECORATION

Scrimshaw by American Whaling Sailor Frederick Wells of Long Island, having a whale form tailpiece with his name and the date, bridge decorated with a right whale on each side, a fingerboard with an image of the ship with crossed anchors, the sailor at work and his beautiful girl in a laurel wreath with initials 'FW' above; plus two, one with the sun and an American shield, the other with a floral blossom on both sides. The scrimshaw is set on an original marked "HOPF" violin, made in Klingenthal, Saxony, Germany, a 'Stainer' copy, made of a two-piece table of spruce, back of maple with irregular fine figure, ribs of medium-fine figure, neck, pegbox and scroll of medium-fine figured maple, and a deep reddish-purple varnish. The owner has added buff and pea green pinstriping at the edge. 14" body, 23" overall. In the original fitted wooden case with pinstriping, wallpaper lining. Repaired crack to back of violin, case is 5 1/2" x 29" x 8". A rare and fine example of a sailor's 'fiddle', from the peak of the whaling era.