Rare paint decorated wood violin Probably New England, circa 1830

Watercolor, pen and ink on wood

Inscribed interior, ink on paper label: Ez Bucaissi [or Bucaiossi]

Marjorie Schorsch, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1986

"Women Only: Folk Art by Female Hands," New York, American Folk Art Museum, April 6-September 12, 2010

American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum, p. 288, fig. 249

Some minior abrasions on edges and between "F" stops.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This violin with painted decoration may be the handiwork of a student at a 19th-century female academy. Painting on wood was an instruction that many schools offered, though today we are most familiar with finely painted pieces of small furniture, such as sewing tables, that typically were covered on the top and four sides with elaborate scenic views or floral arrangements. It is an inexpensive commercial instrument that has been enhanced by its colorful overall diamond pattern. Although there is a label inside the violin, neither the maker nor the artist has been identified.-S.C.H.