DHV:
322
Tourin ID:
GROTH 1
Size:
Bass
Place Made:
Maker:
D
Leipzig
Johann Christian
Hoffmann
Date:
1740 C
Label Text:
Joh. Christian Hoffmann, / König. Poln. und Churf. / Sächs. Hoff Instrument und / Lautenmacher. Leipzig [handwritten]
Body Shape:
Viol
Current Location:
D
Nuremberg
No. of Strings:
7
Collection:
Private Collection
Sound Holes:
C
Catalog Number:
Head:
Female
Private Owner:
Yes
Previous Owner:
Margaret Powell, Headington; her brother, Robert Donington, London
Measurements:
Body Length:
71
String Length:
Rib Depth:
13.2
Upper Width:
31.1
Middle Width:
23.3
Bottom Width:
39.7
Information
Source:
Martius 2015, pp. 368-69; Martius to TGM, 10/06
Literature:
Martius 2015, pp. 368-69; Groth 1992 (Schenck)
Photographs:
Martius 2015, pp. 179 (detail of edge work [color]), 248 (head S [color]), 368-69 (F+B, neck heel, label [color]); Groth 1992 (front 7/8)
Recordings:
Groth 2009 + 2006 (Schaffrath); Groth 1992 (Schenck)
Auctions:
Comments:
Martius JCH 36. Table with wide and irrgular grain, single purfling plus ebony edging, medium arching with slight recurve. Very wide soundpost plate, wide corner blocks; top block not original. Head and pegbox original (or at least old), with carved back (but not sides). Probably converted to a cello in 1853: “Gerepareerd dor des / Gebr. Kok [?] Amsterdam 1853” (with alterations and shortening to the upper end of the body); rebuilt as a viol c. 1930 by Dolmetsch (per G. Hellwig, 1960), who lengthened the pegbox at the lower end for a 7th peg and made a new neck, fingerboard, and tailpiece. Dendrochronology (by Peter Klein) gives date of 1709 for youngest growth ring on table; from same tree as JCH 26 (= LEIPC 08/Leipzig 819, dated 1731). Back widths 31.3/22.9/39.9. Groth 2006 gives date of 1720, perhaps meaning “circa”; Martius gives “nach 1740,” based on type of label.