Beschreibung:

Three American Violin Cases, Maulbetsch & Whittemore, c. 1910, stamped with a bull's head device, the brown tooled leather No. 51 side load holster, the black tooled leather No. 52 end load holster, and the black molded case; ht. 5 1/2, wd. 31, dp. 10 1/4 in. Provenance: The collection of Dr. Glenn P. Wood. Literature: "Development of Handmade Violin Cases in America during the 19th Century," Journal of the Violin Society of America Papers, Vol. XXIV, No. 2, 2014; The Art & History of Violin Cases, 2008, pp. 91-93, illustrated. Note: "This is possibly one of the more influential American case designs of all time. Until the end of the 19th century, the design of violin cases always incorporated one or more straight lines and the manufacturing of cases was somewhat complicated. In a single invention, M&W freed up the design so that all edges and surfaces could be curved and they patented a radical new production process whereby the case was made from synthetic materials shaped in a mold. This design freedom caused a sensation when it was exported to Europe and became known in France as the 'Etui Forme Americaine.' Producers in France and Germany scrambled to mimic the appearance of these 'New Century' cases but were fearful of the US patent. In Germany, a case of similar design was carved from solid wood to avoid litigation over the thermoforming process. In France, Thibouville and Laberte did the best they could using steam presses and wood to try and simulate the American form fitting cases." --G.P.W.