Fiddle and Bow
Musical instrument, decorative art • Joseph Plummer (American, 1774–1862)
Style & Movement
American Folk Art / 19th Century Vernacular Craft
Medium & Technique
Carved maple and spruce wood; joinery, varnishing, and lutherie techniques
Creation Period
circa 1840
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 23 x 8 x 4 inches (Standard violin scale); Vertical orientation
Subject Description
A handmade violin-style fiddle and accompanying bow. The instrument features a standard four-string configuration, f-holes, a carved scroll, and a wooden chin rest. The bow is an outcurved, earlier-style folk variant rather than a modern convex bow.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (considering age and folk nature); displays significant surface wear and patina consistent with historical use.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $15,000
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $12,000
Provenance History
Meredith, New Hampshire, USA; likely passed through local family or estate collections before acquisition by a museum institution (Gift of CodeBow International, Ltd. as per visible label).
Art Historical Significance
Plummer, known as the 'Hermit of Meredith Hill,' represents a unique segment of American outsider craft. His instruments are significant for their departure from strict European lutherie standards, showcasing regional 19th-century American ingenuity and independence.
Notable Features
The bow exhibits a primitive tensioning mechanism; the label identifies the maker as a local 'eccentric' persona, adding significant folk-lore value to the provenance.
Condition Issues
Visible wear on the fingerboard, darkening of the varnish/wood from hand oils, potential drying cracks in the spruce top, and thinning of the finish on the upper bouts.
Conservation Recommendations
Controlled humidity (45-55% RH) to prevent wood cracking; low UV light exposure; professional re-hairing only if intended for play, otherwise kept in static display.