The purfling, three layers of thin wood, is carefully cut and inlaid. Purfling is both decorative and protective, helping prevent any edge cracks that might (but hopefully won’t!) occur, from extending to the body of the instrument. The four sections of purfling (one for the upper section, one each for the center bouts, and one for the lower section) must be precisely the right length to match up at the corners and be perfectly shaped to meet with no gaps or overlaps. Makers take pride in executing this precisely.

The purfling is then trimmed flush with the surface of the instrument and the beginning of the edge channel is formed. Further refinements are made to the edges now that the purfling is in place.

A scroll is carved by hand from aged maple. This small sculpture adds beauty and personality and provides the instrument’s “signature.” Because they are carved by hand, no two scrolls are identical.