DHV:
53
Tourin ID:
BENN 1
Size:
Bass
Place Made:
Maker:
GB
London
George
Miller
Date:
16..
Label Text:
George Miller in Vine C[ourt] / [with]o[ut] [Bishop]sgate Lon[don] 16
Body Shape:
Viol
Current Location:
GB
No. of Strings:
6
Collection:
Private Collection
Sound Holes:
C
Catalog Number:
Head:
Female
Private Owner:
Yes
Previous Owner:
Henry Woledge, Beverley, Yorkshire, c. 1965-2003; Nicholas Benn, 1963-64/5; bought from J & A Beare, London
Measurements:
Body Length:
67.8
String Length:
70
Rib Depth:
11.5
Upper Width:
31.6
Middle Width:
24.2
Bottom Width:
38.8
Information
Source:
Owner to TGM, 8/03, 9/04; N. Benn to TGM, 7/03; to G. Lyman 2/64, 6/65
Literature:
MacCracken 2016, p. 194
Photographs:
[Unpublished, from M. Caudle 9/10: table off, underside of table, body open, back (all without neck); carving at top of back; top block from above and front, bottom block; plus label 3/11 (color)]
Recordings:
Auctions:
Comments:
In 1965, awaiting restoration; had a cello neck when bought by Benn. Sold by Woledge at Bonham’s 5/8/03. Woledge wrote (via Benn): “Inscription largely illegible, but George Miller in (Vine)...London 16.. can be read. New neck and head by Joseph Skeaping about 1970, who was unable to re-use old bass plate with label; hence it is separate. Reconversion to viol completed by Arthur Burgan, Beverley, about 1972.” Caudle 9/04: 4-piece table with several knots, faintly-inked double purfling and medium arching; 2-piece back with many cracks, double purfling, relief carving at button. Neck, head, fingerboard and tailpiece are modern. Back, ribs, and maybe top block are original; table likely 18C English, not very skillful, with very uneven thicknessing. (Miller probably died in 1684.)