Violin

Production date
1918
 Description
A violin with a mid-coloured wooden body. It has a bridge and four strings, one of the strings are broken. It has four black wooden tuning pegs with mother of pearl round inserts on ends. " William Ernest Billing / New Plymouth N.Z / Fecit A.D 1918 / (W.E. Billing) [signed] " is handwritten in blue ink on a piece of paper which is adhered inside the main body.
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Object detail

Artist/Maker
Production role
Maker
Production date
1918
Production place
New Zealand/Taranaki/New Plymouth
Subject person
Classification
Musical T&E/T&E For Communication
Credit line
This is William Billing's own violin. It was made in 1918 and has been passed down through his family. Billing made his first violin in 1906 from trees from inland Taranaki. He firmly believed that New Zealand timbers were as good for making violins as those from Europe.
Accession number
TM2002.242
Collection type
Social History
Material
Wood

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Public comments

I have a Billing violin purchased, as new, from the maker in the 1950s. It will need a new home.

- Anthony posted 2 years ago.

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