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Basic ID |
Fiddle reportedly used by Mark Beaubien, with case and bow, circa 1860. Wood. France. Gift of Bernice K. Hicks. 1980.226a-c (Image shows violin only) |
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Title |
Fiddle reportedly used by Mark Beaubien, with case and bow (image shows violin only) |
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Place of Origin |
United States |
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Date |
circa 1860 |
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Physical Description |
a) Fiddle - wooden violin with attached chin rest, and 3 metal strings which are wrapped with red and blue thread at the bottom. b) Violin case - black wooden case that opens on side hinges. Case has two metal closings, metal lock and handle on the side that opens. Case is lined with brown paper and red cloth. Back of case is marked: ORIGINAL/GSB/IMPROVED. c) Violin bow - wooden violin bow has mother of pearl inlay on handle. |
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Materials/Techniques |
wood (plant material) |
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Dimensions |
Length: (24.25 in); Height: (1.875 in); Length: (30 in); Height: (4 in); Length: (28.75 in) |
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Marks |
ORIGINAL/GSB/IMPROVED |
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Object History |
This fiddle was reportedly used by Mark Beaubien, an early settler of Chicago. The donor, Mrs. Hicks, is the granddaughter of Alfred Mathieu, who was the son of Louis Mathieu. Louis Mathieu was a nephew by marriage to Mark Beaubien. According to family tradition, the instrument was given to Mathieu by Beaubien around 1860. |
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Curatorial Statement |
This fiddle was reportedly owned and played by Mark Beaubien, a French Creole who moved from Detroit to Chicago in 1825. In 1829, Beaubien established the Sauganash Tavern at Wolf's Point, one of Chicago's earliest hotels and gathering places, near the fork of the Chicago River. The tavern also served as a hotel and restaurant, offering hearty food and drink, along with gambling and dancing to the lively sounds of Beaubien's fiddle. This particular fiddle, which, according to family tradition, was used by Beaubien in his later years, serves as a testament to the vivacity that Beaubien brought to Chicago's frontier era. |
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Classification |
sound devices |
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Categories |
musical instruments |
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Object Types |
violins
cases (containers)
bows (chordophone components) |
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Related Persons |
Beaubien, Mark, 1800-1881 |
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Related Corporate Names |
Sauganash Hotel (Chicago, Ill.) |
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Related Places |
Chicago River (Ill.)
Chicago (Ill.)
Wolf's Point (Chicago, Ill.) |
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Related Terms |
hotels (public accommodations)
taverns |
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Credit Line |
Gift of Bernice K. Hicks |
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Owner |
Chicago Historical Society |
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Copyright Notice |
© Chicago Historical Society, published on or before 2017, all rights reserved. |
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Exhibition History |
Chicago : Crossroads of America. Chicago History Museum (2006/09/30 - ) |
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Object Number |
1980.226a-c |
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Image File Name |
ICHi-40648 |
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Language |
English |
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Repository |
Chicago History Museum. 1601 North Clark Street Chicago, Illinois 60614-6038 |
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Collection Name |
Museum Collection |
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Research Inquiry |
http://libguides.chicagohistory.org/research |
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Licensing Inquiry |
Visit https://images.chicagohistory.org or email rightsrepro@chicagohistory.org |
Museum Collection
