List of references useful for violins

The top of instruments in the violin family are usually made of Picea abies wood and the wood structure is visible. It is therefore possible to measure the rings and match them towards available spruce (and fir) references. Useful references from central European mountains are listed below. But often the best matches are found towards other instruments, but unfortunately only quite a few ring series from instruments are published yet. They we are aware of are listed below.

References potentially useful for dating violins

Picea abies (PCAB) if not other stated. The timespan may be according to a truncated version in order to avoid ends with two small sample depth.

The Alps

• ITRDB: fran7.rwl info, 1659-1975, Mt. Ventoux, 1775 m, 44°10′N 5°15′E, ABAL, F. Serre-Bachet
• ITRDB: fran039.rwl info, 1732-1990, Mont Risoux, 1100 m, 46°38′N 6°05′E, D. McCormick, J. Topham, B. Michaud
• ITRDB: swit177.rwl info, 987-1976, Lauenen + div. Stao CH, 1250 m, 46°25′N 7°19′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: swit169.rwl info, 1562-1986, Simmental, Iffigenalp, 1900 m, 46°24′N 7°26′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: swit184.rwl info, 1773-1999, Muotathal SZ Bödmerenwald, 1550 m, 46°59′N 8°51′E, Christof Bigler
• ITRDB: swit173.rwl info, 1537-1995, Obersaxen, Meierhof, GR, 1520 m, 46°44′N 9°5′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: swit181.rwl info, 1774-1999, Davos GR Dischma-Flüela, 1800 m, 46°47′N 09°53′E, Christof Bigler
• ITRDB: aust003.rwl info, 1301-1974, Obergurgl, 46°52′N 11°01′E, Giertz
• ITRDB: aust007.rwl info, 1774-1975, Stubaital, Milderaun Alm, 1850 m, 47°08′N 11°17′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: germ12.rwl info, 1599-1961, Kreuth, ABAL, 47°38′N 11°45′E, Becker
• ITRDB: germ11.rwl info, 1700-1961, Kreuth, 47°23′N 11°45′E, Becker
• ITRDB: ital007.rwl info, 1686-1975, Cortina dAmpezzo (Süd), 1820 m, 46°32′N 12°04′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: ital006.rwl info, 1745-1975, Cortina dAmpezzo (Nord), 1820 m, 46°32′N 12°04′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: ital025.rwl info, 1725-1990, Fodara Vedla Alm, 1970 m, 46°38′N 12°06′E, Huesken W.

Bayerischer Wald

• ITRDB: germ036.rwl info, 1837-1996, Sinzing, 425 m, 48°58′N 11°59′E, Rob Wilson
• ITRDB: germ4.rwl info, 1572-1951 (truncated), Bayerischer Wald, ABAL, 48°45′N 13°00′E, Becker
• ITRDB: germ5.rwl info, 1541-1963, Bayerischer Wald, ABAL, 48°45′N 13°00′E, Becker
• ITRDB: germ14.rwl info, 1642-1953, Bayerischer Wald, 48°45′N 13°00′E, Becker
• ITRDB: germ040.rwl info, 1734-1995, Falkenstein, 1325m, 49°06′N 13°20′E, Rob Wilson
• ITRDB: germ033.rwl info, 1828-1997, Arber, 1420 m, 49°07′N 13°08′E, Rob Wilson

Rest of Germany

• ITRDB: germ020.rwl info, 1776-1977, Andreasberg Harz Schluft, 900 m, 51°43′N 10°34′E, Fritz Schweingruber

Sudety Mountains

• ITRDB: czec001.rwl info, 1798-1991, Krkonose mountains, Upper Labe valley, northern slope, 1000 m, 50°45′N 15°33′E, C. Sander, D. Eckstein, J. Dobry, J. Kyncl
• ITRDB: czec002.rwl info, 1802-1990, Krkonose mountains, Upper Labe valley, southern slope, 1150 m, 50°45′N 15°33′E, C. Sander, D. Eckstein, J. Dobry, J. Kyncl

Carpathian Mountains

• ITRDB: czec3.rwl info (revised), 1771-1943, Beskid Mountains, 49°50′N 18°20′E, Becker
• ITRDB: czec.rwl info, 1701-1943, Beskid Mountains, ABAL, 49°50′N 18°20′E, Becker
• ITRDB: pola019.rwl info, 1747-1978, Swistowko, Wyznig, 1500 m, 49°15′N 19°55′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: pola020.rwl info, 1788-1964, Gasienicowy, 1500 m, 49°15′N 19°55′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: roma002.rwl info(revised), 1820-1981, Novaci, 1650 m, 45°18′N 23°40′E, Fritz Schweingruber

Balkan

• ITRDB: yugo001.rwl info, 1760-1981, Vrsic, Krajanska Gora, 1600 m, 46°28′N 13°45′E, Fritz Schweingruber
• ITRDB: slov001.rwl info, 1811-1992, BISTRA, ABAL, 550 m, 45°56′N 14°19′E, K. Cufar T. Levanic

Appenine Mountains

• ITRDB: ital022.rwl info, 1682-1973, Pratomagno-Bibbiena, Appenine Mountains, ABSP, 1050 m, 43°40′N 11°46′E, Bernd Becker

Scandinavian PCAB-references

• See The PCAB-section of the general Scandinavian list

Measurements from single instruments

Alpine region

• GuA23, Cello, probably French 18'th cent, 1557-1717, Wood from the Alps, T. Axelson. (Measurements from a very low resolution image.)

• Karr-Koussevitsky double bass, 1445-1761, H.D.Grissino-Mayer, G.G.Deweese, D.A. Williams, TREE-RING RESEARCH, Vol. 61(2), 2005, pp. 77–86

• Kux/Castelbarco Viola, ITRDB: brit052.rwl info, 1559-1683, Henri D. Grissino-Mayer, Paul R. Sheppard, Malcolm K. Cleaveland

• Archinto Viola, ITRDB: brit051.rwl info, 1527-1685, Henri D. Grissino-Mayer, Paul R. Sheppard, Malcolm K. Cleaveland

• Messiah Violin, ITRDB: brit050.rwl info, 1587-1686, Henri D. Grissino-Mayer, Paul R. Sheppard, Malcolm K. Cleaveland

• MITT1, Mittenwald Neuner School Violin 1, ITRDB: germ062.rwl info (ITRDB (updates): germ062.rwl info), 1490-1803 47°26′N 11°15′E, Peter Ratcliff

• MITT2, Mittenwald Neuner School Violin 2, ITRDB: germ063.rwl info (ITRDB (updates): germ063.rwl info), 1605-1805, Peter Ratcliff

• JJAIS, Mittenwald Johannes Jais Violin, ITRDB: germ064.rwl info (ITRDB (updates): germ064.rwl info), 1630-1793, Peter Ratcliff

Central Europe

• Eost01, Violin by Erik Östberg, Svärdsjö, Sweden. Wood from Germany (best towards germ14, Bayrische Wald), 1870-1961, B. Israels
• cel9, Cello, probably Hungary 20'th cent. 1813-1934, (false label: Genua 1775), Bohemia area?, T. Axelson (dating report)

Scandinavia

• Marn01, Violin used in Dalarna, Sweden. Rater local wood, no label, 1831-1924, B. Israels