Broken Violin

Before Shipment

Description:
Nice~Old~Rigat Rubus~St. Petersburg Russian 4/4 ViolinHard Case~Bow with Mother of Pearl~Needs Some TLC

The item in this auction is an old Rigat Rubus violin. Rigat Rubus, the maker of this violin was probably the finest violin maker of the Soviet Union. He built his violins in the style of St. Petersburg with the edges faired to the ribs. Many of his surviving violins are in use by musicians in fine orchestras.

The violin measures 23 1/4 inches long and appears to have no cracks or repairs that I can find. There is a small wooden dowel in the case that I believe may be the sound post. I am no expert but I have read it can be inserted with a special tool. The violin is missing the chinrest and the bars that hold them on. Must have new strings. It has nicely cut scroll work and the body of the violin is in good shape with some wear that you would expect for its age. There are a few spots that the finish is wore off. I believe the finish on the body is original. The back has nice wood and some flaming. I have tried to photograph the label on the inside of the body without any luck. The label reads Rigat Rubus on the first line and St. Petersburg under it. The bow is in great shape with the exception of the strings and is approximately 28 1/2 inches long with mother of pearl on it. The hardcase is in fair condition and comes with a key. All this old and beautiful violin needs is some TLC!!! I have done my best to describe this item as it is. If additional pictures are needed, let me know.

After shipment (click on individual photos to enlarge):

Neck broken loose from body, bone nut off, tailpiece gouged belly, tailpiece loose, tailpiece saddle off, fingerboard loose, upper bout right rib loose and unglued, upper bout left rib loose and unglued, bow tip broken, bow metal end piece off and unglued, upper bout left side of belly where neck joins body has the purfling broken out and unglued. Nut can be seen in the first and second photos above the bow. Third photo shows sound post and tailpiece saddle above the bow and the fingerboard, two pieces of purfling, and the bow's loose metal end piece below the bow. Fourth and fifth photos show the neck broken loose and the subsequently loosened and unglued upper bout rib sections. Sixth photo shows the broken loose neck and the broken out purfling to the left of the button. Seventh photo shows the broken loose and unglued location for the tailpiece saddle. Eighth photo shows the gouged belly from the loose tailpiece digging into the surface (below the worn-in area where the bridge usually sits). The ninth photo is another shot of the lifted, loose and unglued ribs on both sides of the upper bouts by the button. The remaining instrument shots show more views of these problem areas. The final shots show the condition of the box upon receipt as well as the packing used around the instrument's own violin case. The case itself was wrapped in the bubble wrap shown in these pictures and then placed upside down in the packing before the box was sealed and labeled as shown in the last shots.