🇨🇦 Joseph Kun Workshop One-Piece Violin Back Blank (Potential) – Pre-Stained Figured Maple (Acer spp.)
Material – Annotated & Outlined
We are pleased to present a unique and highly unusual violin wood billet originating from materials associated with the workshop estate of Joseph Kun (Ottawa, Ontario 🇨🇦), one of Canada’s most respected 20th-century violin makers.
This piece represents authentic estate-origin workshop material acquired through professional luthier channels and offers rare potential for transformation into a one-piece violin back.
Description
Instrument: Violin (Full-size potential)
Component: Tapered billet with drawn violin outline
Wood: Figured Maple — Acer spp.
Construction Potential: One-piece back (from thick section)
Surface: Pre-stained / pre-colored
Working Stage: Rough billet with marked template; carving required
Measurements
- Outline length: approx. 14 inches (≈ 356 mm)
- Lower bout: approx. 8.5 inches
- Upper bout: approx. 6.75 inches
- Billet size: approx. 16.75″ × 9″
- Thickness: approx. 1.5″ tapering to 0.5″
The billet has been pre-stained, giving the maple a warm amber tone that enhances the natural figure and flame visibility. Pre-coloring like this is sometimes used for visual evaluation, demonstration purposes, or preparatory finishing concepts.
The wood displays attractive figure with sufficient width and depth on the thicker side to allow carving into a single-piece violin back, making it particularly interesting for makers seeking distinctive material.
A hand-drawn violin outline is present on the surface, adding to its workshop character and historical intrigue.
Provenance 🇨🇦
This piece originates from material associated with the Joseph Kun workshop estate.
It was purchased at the estate auction by Toronto luthier Filip Tomov Toronto Luthier and subsequently acquired through professional sourcing channels.
Chain of custody:
Joseph Kun Estate → Filip Tomov (Toronto 🇨🇦) → Present Offering
No representation is made that this wood was personally prepared or intended for a specific instrument by Joseph Kun.
No certificate is provided.
Significance
This billet offers several unusual and desirable attributes:
- Potential conversion into a one-piece violin back
- Estate provenance from a respected Canadian maker
- Pre-stained surface highlighting figure
- Full violin outline already marked
- Substantial carving thickness on one side
- Unique tapered preparation rarely encountered
Pieces combining these characteristics are uncommon on the open market.
Availability
Workshop material from the Joseph Kun estate is finite.
Once sold, comparable pieces from this source cannot be replenished.
This is a one-time acquisition opportunity.