DHV:
1034
Tourin ID:
Size:
Bass
Place Made:
Maker:
GB
London
Barak
Norman
Date:
Label Text:
Barrake Norman / St. Pauls / London 1617 [handwritten; date sic]
Body Shape:
Viol
Current Location:
USA
Cambridge, MA
No. of Strings:
6
Collection:
Harvard University
Sound Holes:
C
Catalog Number:
58
Head:
Scroll
Private Owner:
Previous Owner:
Willi Schmid, Munich, -1934
Measurements:
Body Length:
72.2
String Length:
68.8
Rib Depth:
12.3
Upper Width:
31.3
Middle Width:
23
Bottom Width:
39.2
Information
Source:
TGM visit 10/93
Literature:
Hebbert 2001, pp. 314-15 (X:39); Thompson 1989, p. 9
Photographs:
[Concert program, 193?, in Harvard’s files (front)] [by TGM: FB+S, table ornament, label]
Recordings:
Auctions:
Comments:
Number of pieces in table unclear; 2-piece back with oval-plus-arrow at bottom and below fold, diamond pattern in center unlike other Norman designs; both with double purfling. Cello-style pegbox has unused 7th hole, also plugged sets of holes for 4 and 5 pegs. Neck set into table, with 3 cm of new wood on each side; plain ebony fingerboard and tailpiece; tailgut and endpin holder. Heavy instrument. Harvard website (8/08): “by Barak Norman, English c. 1720 [with] fake label...”; (7/17): “The star instrument in the collection is the Barak Norman bass viol, ... made in 1717....” Hebbert 2001: dimensions inconsistent with Norman’s work. Pringle (to TGM, based on photos): body looks genuine; neck very doubtful. Table ornament Type VIII, back center ornament not in Hebbert’s typology (unique), above and below Type Ia.