DHV:
1086
Tourin ID:
Size:
Bass
Place Made:
Maker:
GB
London
John
Shaw
Date:
1673
Label Text:
Carved and Made by John Shaw / and sold by John Carr his master / at the Middle Temple Gate in Fleet / Streete 1673 [handwritten]
Body Shape:
Viol
Current Location:
USA
Bloomington, IN
No. of Strings:
7
Collection:
Private Collection
Sound Holes:
C
Catalog Number:
Head:
Male
Private Owner:
Yes
Previous Owner:
Bernard von Hühnerbein, Cologne, 1991-92; Tony Bingham, London, 1991; W.E. Hill & Sons, London (reserve collection), 1925-91
Measurements:
Body Length:
72.2
String Length:
69
Rib Depth:
12.8
Upper Width:
37.3
Middle Width:
29.1
Bottom Width:
44.9
Information
Source:
R. Rose to TGM, 8/08; owner to TGM, 5/01 and 5/10; Sotheby’s 12/4/91, lot 57
Literature:
MacCracken 2016, p. 201; Montagu 1992, p. 472; Sotheby’s 12/4/91, lot 57
Photographs:
Fleming & Bryan 2016, pl. 6 (head FB+S [color]); MacCracken 2016, p. 201 (F+B); Fleming 2001, L83 (label); Sotheby’s 12/4/91, lot 57 (F+B [color]); [unpublished, from J. Kraft: F+B, head FB+S (color)]
Recordings:
Auctions:
Comments:
Sotheby’s 1991/12/04, lot 57
2-piece table with 2 wings and elaborate floral ornament; 2-piece back also has 2 wings, with three large purfling ornaments (all curved lines, not diamond patterns); double purfling front and back. Male head has full beard, pegbox carved on back and sides with angels and dragons. Fingerboard not original. Unsold at Sotheby’s 1991; Tony Bingham subsequently bought directly from Hills (he confirmed this much) and sold to Bernard von Hühnerbein, Cologne, who then sold it to present owner. Unstrung when photographed by Sotheby’s (back length 72.1 cm); 7th string added by François Bodart for present owner, c. 1992/93. Montagu 1992: “more by W.E. Hill than [its] original maker”. Hill, English Makers (typed notes at Ashmolean) reproduces this label from “a Viola da Gamba of large size and bearing a carved head, which [is] one of the finest pieces of English work we have ever come across. This instrument was purchased by us in February, 1925.” Repair label: “Concerlada Por Pedro Blaisa Artista Fabricante De Nabecas Rabecoes Lyra Violoa Franceza Na Ano** Z**** Lisboa 1831”.