Who knows what this rough and ready violin may have sounded like, but it still stands as testament to the thrifty mentality of rural Taranaki.
The instrument’s body has been crafted from benzine boxes by Ernest Alberthsen, who farmed in Tututawa, east Taranaki, during the 1920s. It was given to Edna Phillips soon after. Edna never heard the instrument played and it was missing its strings and other important parts when it was donated to Taranaki Museum in 2001.
Puke Ariki also cares for other violins in the Heritage Collection, which were made to a much higher standard by recognised Taranaki craftsmen including Charles Johnson and William Billing.
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The information on this website is provided for general research and reference only. While we try to keep content accurate and current, we make no guarantees about its completeness or correctness. It should not be considered a replacement for a LIM or a Property Report. Some content is supplied by third parties. Puke Ariki has not verified this content and users should check its accuracy before relying on it.The inclusion of a building on the website does not imply heritage status. See SCHED1 in the NPDC District Plan for a list of buildings that have rules about what can happen to or around them (administered by NPDC). See the New Zealand Heritage List for a list of buildings that are celebrated for their heritage significance but are not subject to rules (administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga). Should any corrections need to be made to the records or for more information please contact us.
