DHV:
1498
Tourin ID:
Size:
Pardessus
Place Made:
Maker:
F
Paris
François
Vaillant
Date:
1721
Label Text:
François Vaillan / rue Debussy 1721 / a Paris [handwritten]
Body Shape:
Viol
Current Location:
USA
Boston, MA
No. of Strings:
-10
Collection:
Museum of Fine Arts
Sound Holes:
C
Catalog Number:
17.1723 (formerly 279)
Head:
Finial
Private Owner:
Previous Owner:
Francis W. Galpin, -1916
Measurements:
Body Length:
32
String Length:
32
Rib Depth:
6.5
Upper Width:
15.5
Middle Width:
11
Bottom Width:
18.75
Information
Source:
Museum’s website; museum to TGM, 5/08; Bessaraboff 1941, p. 283
Literature:
Bessaraboff 1941, p. 283
Photographs:
On museum’s website (front [color]); Bessaraboff 1941, pl. XI (front)
Recordings:
Auctions:
Comments:
Converted into a cither viol with 10 metal strings (top 4 courses double, iron; bottom 2 single, brass); given early date, originally probably 6. Tailgut (wire). Pegbox ends in a rectangle with two light-colored triangular inlays on left and right. (T. Bingham suggested pegbox possibly recycled from an English guitar; A. Dipper thinks it is early work from the Banks shop--thus 3Q18C?--made specifically for this instrument.) Restored by Donald Warnock in early 1960s, including new pegs, also tailpiece and hookbar replacing tailgut and button; further work by Lloyd Adams in 1964, including new bottom block and “top plate” (i.e., table; previous one kept separately). Museum accession record (presumably dating from 1917) describes it as “broken and much repaired,” contradicting Bessaraboff’s claim that “the instrument is in its original condition.” He transcribed maker’s surname as Vailleu; Vannes calls this a viole d’amour and assigns it to F. Vaillant supposedly (active 1736-83), saying Bessaraboff must have misread both name and date; museum’s website says Vaillan.