A well-made instrument which has been restored by Andrew Dipper. The violas da gamba, held between the legs to play, developed in parallel with the violin family. The bass viola da gamba was widely used as a continuo instrument, in viol consorts, and as a solo instrument until the later part of the 18th century.
The bow in these recordings was made by Richard Wilson, Cambridge, 1998 based on a portrait of J. Schenk by Pieter Schenle, c 1696.
Current ownership: Purchased with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund, the University's General Council Trust, the Pilgrim Trust and an anonymous benefactor.
EUCHMI Acquisition number: (2878)
Technical description: Soundboard of spruce; ribs and back of cypress; neck, head and fingerboard walnut, veneered in fruitwood, with ebony, ivory and fruitwood purfling (all not original); pegs of boxwood; nut of ivory. C-holes. Rose by the bottom of the fingerboard 60.5 x 48mm oval shape, of wood and parchment, rose centre 192mm from the top. Arch over soundboard 27mm. Soundboard and back edged with ivory, ebony and fruitwood. Red-brown varnish. Barring inside the instrument on the back for the soundpost, lower bout and the fold. Back of 6 pieces - 2 central pieces and added pieces on the bouts. Neck 286 long; fingerboard 441.5 long, 52.8 wide at the nut, 81.7 wide at the bottom.
Inscriptions: No inscriptions.
Decorative features: Ebony, ivory and fruitwood purfling on the soundboard and back edges, and the head, fingerboard, neck and tailpiece.
Repair history: Restored by Andrew Dipper including a new neck, fingerboard, tailpiece and bridge. Label inside recording the repair glued to the bottom block.
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copyright.
© Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, 1999-2003, 2008.
This page updated: 29.10.08