Violin making mold and templates

Violin makers draw around templates to mark out on the wood the shapes that their instruments will be. Many makers prefer to use the shapes of old Cremonese violins like those made by the most famous violin maker, Stradivarius. After cutting them out and shaping them, makers fix the parts together around a mold, which holds the blocks, sides and back in the right places while they are glued together. The mold is carefully knocked out before the top is glued on.

University of Edinburgh, Musical Instrument Collection: MIMEd 1302