Museum Violins

Some violins must spend their lives behind bars. Unable to make a sound. It makes me think of a wild animal caged and unable to live the life it was born to.

These violins live in a controlled world behind glass at the Henry Ford Museum. The last time they uttered a sound was 12 or 13 years ago when Lord Menuhin visited Detroit.

The 1703 Stradivari violin is one of several fine 17th and 18th century violins purchased by Henry Ford during the 1920s. Henry Ford liked the "fiddle" and because he was one of the richest men in the world he bought several fine violins. He was not an accomplished violinist, but played for his own enjoyment.

Now these violins can only dream of making music, perhaps someday again they will be allowed to create the sounds they were born to. For now, they are SILENT VIOLINS.

photos are © Sheila Helser
They were taken with a Pentax without flash at the Henry Ford Musem