A local musician has donated the 18^th century violin and bow that was played by her late father to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Department of Music.

Julia Weiser, 616 Sunset Blvd., Stevens Point, who teaches private piano lessons, has given the instrument of Robert Lovejoy of Janesville to UWSP.

The violin and bow were refurbished and appraised by Claire Givens Violin Restoration Shop, Minneapolis. The repair shop did not do a full restoration but stabilized the violin so it will sound its best.

"It is quite a fascinating instrument," according to Claire Givens, who evaluated it.

Together the violin and bow are valued at nearly $6,000, with the bow alone valued at $1,800. Givens valued the violin at $4,000, but says it will sound like a $25,000 instrument.

"We are grateful for this donation and look forward to many years of wonderful music making on this fine and historic instrument," said Steve Bjella, associate professor of music at UWSP. Bjella�s students will use the instrument.

Lovejoy, a Janesville attorney, played violin and his brother played cello in the Rockford Symphony. Their mother drove them from Rockford to Chicago for lessons when they were children during the 1920s and 1930s. She purchased the violin for her son in the late 1920s.

Weiser inherited the instrument when her father died in 1988. "I thought it would be better if the violin was used by university students rather than sitting in a closet," Weiser said.

The violin has a label of an Italian maker from the 16th century, however it is believed that the instrument was made in the early 18th century in Holland. Placing false labels in instruments was a common practice to indicate the model used for the instrument�s design.

The violin�s top was replaced about 75 years ago and it is slightly cracked on the back, Givens said. This type of slight damage is to be expected with an instrument of this age, Bjella said. Now that it has been stabilized, it should play like a valuable and undamaged instrument.

"Its going to sound incredible, a very good instrument for students to use," Givens said.

The bow was made in Germany of brown-red Pernambuco wood and has a Tortoise shell frog mounted with gold, traditionally the mark of the highest quality. A German-made bow in the French style of the 1920s, it is in good shape and needed only routine maintenance to make it playable, Givens said.

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ky/vc/Weiser violin