Vernice bianca
Encyclopedia
Vernice bianca is a type of sealer varnish
used in violin
making. It is mainly prepared with a mix of egg white
and gum arabic
.
This preparation is highly efficient in strengthening the inside and outside of violins, as well as improving the acoustic of the instruments. (Increased wave propagation speed and decreased dampening of vibration).
According to Simone Fernando Sacconi
, this "white varnish" is of significant importance in violin making as it allows for thinner plates, lighter and better sounding instruments. One can apply two layers of this preparation inside as well as outside of the sound box. This white varnish is transparent and is absorbed by the wood. It is absorbed by the spruce top more than by the other maple parts; it has an uniforming effect on the whole soundbox.
It must be noted that this preparation is likely to be a key element for the "secret" of old Cremonese
instruments as a classical violin with most of its varnish gone keeps its acoustical qualities, whereas an instrument re-varnished with a wrong varnish is suffocated and loses its acoustical qualities.
One must also insist on the fact that this varnish is not doing any miracles and won't turn a bad instrument into a good one. The soundbox prior to the white varnish application must be fine tuned (plate tuning). The genius of Stradivarius
was, according to Sacconi, that he was able to anticipate the modification and the potential improvement of the Vernice Bianca application and tune the unfinished instrument accordingly.
Varnish
Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent. Varnish finishes are usually glossy but may be designed to produce satin or semi-gloss...
used in violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
making. It is mainly prepared with a mix of egg white
Egg white
Egg white is the common name for the clear liquid contained within an egg. In chickens it is formed from the layers of secretions of the anterior section of the hen's oviduct during the passage of the egg. It forms around either fertilized or unfertilized egg yolks...
and gum arabic
Gum arabic
220px|thumb|right|Acacia gumGum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal...
.
Possible preparation
- Melt 20 grams of powdered gum arabic in a water bath
- Add a half spoon of honeyHoneyHoney is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
and let it cool down - Blend with an egg whiteEgg whiteEgg white is the common name for the clear liquid contained within an egg. In chickens it is formed from the layers of secretions of the anterior section of the hen's oviduct during the passage of the egg. It forms around either fertilized or unfertilized egg yolks...
and filter
This preparation is highly efficient in strengthening the inside and outside of violins, as well as improving the acoustic of the instruments. (Increased wave propagation speed and decreased dampening of vibration).
According to Simone Fernando Sacconi
Simone Fernando Sacconi
Simone Fernando Sacconi was an expert Italian violin maker and restorer who studied fellow luthier Antonio Stradivari extensively during his lifetime....
, this "white varnish" is of significant importance in violin making as it allows for thinner plates, lighter and better sounding instruments. One can apply two layers of this preparation inside as well as outside of the sound box. This white varnish is transparent and is absorbed by the wood. It is absorbed by the spruce top more than by the other maple parts; it has an uniforming effect on the whole soundbox.
It must be noted that this preparation is likely to be a key element for the "secret" of old Cremonese
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
instruments as a classical violin with most of its varnish gone keeps its acoustical qualities, whereas an instrument re-varnished with a wrong varnish is suffocated and loses its acoustical qualities.
One must also insist on the fact that this varnish is not doing any miracles and won't turn a bad instrument into a good one. The soundbox prior to the white varnish application must be fine tuned (plate tuning). The genius of Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
was, according to Sacconi, that he was able to anticipate the modification and the potential improvement of the Vernice Bianca application and tune the unfinished instrument accordingly.