Violin Presented to Henry Ford by Franz Zucker, 1933

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Artifact Overview

Henry Ford, a folk hero to many, often received special gifts from ordinary people. Franz Zucker, a Czechoslovakian violinmaker--aware of Ford's love of violins--made this violin as a gift for Ford's 70th birthday in July 1933, a token of Zucker's admiration and respect for the industrialist. Zucker used a photograph of Ford to carve the likeness on the back of the violin.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Violin

Date Made

1933

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

34.155.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Franz Zucker.

Material

Maple (Wood)
Spruce (Wood)
Ebony (Hardwood)

Dimensions

Height: 3.25 in
Width: 8.071 in
Length: 14 in

Inscriptions

Typewritten on interior label: FRANZ ZUCKER / GEIGENBAUER / IN SHOENBACK B EGER / C.S.R. On label: NICOLAUS BERGONZI / CREMONISIS FACIEBAT / ANNO 1760 Below portrait: Henry Ford On violin: H.F. On chin rest: BECKER'S CHIN AND SHOULDER REST
Violin Presented to Henry Ford by Franz Zucker, 1933