DHV:
600
Tourin ID:
METRO 11
Size:
Bass
Place Made:
Maker:
GB
London
Edward / Richard II
Lewis / Meares
Date:
1720 C
Label Text:
Ricardus Meares, / Instrument. Music. Fabric. in area / Boreali D. Pauli apud Londinates [handwritten]
Body Shape:
Viol
Current Location:
USA
New York, NY
No. of Strings:
6
Collection:
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Sound Holes:
C
Catalog Number:
1982.324
Head:
Female
Private Owner:
Previous Owner:
Maisie (Mrs. Paul) Kohnstamm, Pound Ridge, NY; (via Jacques Français); Henry Werro, Berne; W.E. Hill & Sons, London
Measurements:
Body Length:
65.4
String Length:
64.6
Rib Depth:
12.8
Upper Width:
30.8
Middle Width:
22.3
Bottom Width:
37.2
Information
Source:
TGM visit 8/92
Literature:
Raymaekers 2020, p. 246; Hebbert 2003b; Pollens 2000, p. 63; Kaycoff 1992, p. 6; Monical 1989a, p. 19 (F+S); JVdGSA 3 (1966): 69-71
Photographs:
On museum’s website (FB+S, front 3/4, head 3/4 + S [color]); Pollens 2000, pp. 54, 62 (both front 3/4, latter = middle and lower bouts only); Moens 1996, p. 24 (front); Monical 1989a, p. 19 (F+S); AMIS Newsletter 13/3 (10/84): 7 (front 3/4, back); JVdGSA 3 (1966): 70 (FB+S, head side)
Recordings:
Auctions:
Comments:
Hebbert 2003b: incomplete at the time of Lewis’s death in 1717, then bought at his estate sale and completed by Meares II, hence before 1725 (when he died); table ornament exactly matches GLAS 1, tailpiece marquetry from Norman or his supplier. Pollens 2000: 3-piece back, 2-piece table (youngest growth ring = 1673); neck, pegbox not original; top, back & sides have elaborate floral and geometric purfling, back has deeply incised floral motif; tailpiece early, perhaps original. Instrument closely resembles signed [recte: unsigned] bass by Edward Lewis at RCM, London: perhaps made by Lewis, sold by Meares? Museum: dendrochronology gives dates of 1672, 1673 for youngest growth rings on table; dimensions 65.3, 31.1/22.5/37.4, 12.7, 64.4. (Kaycoff 1992: J. Peknik says it’s a composite instrument: table only 2-piece, soundholes too large, rib and table purfling don’t match, head too large, etc.) Outline drawing of bridge “probably from” this viol in Raemaekers 2020, p. 246.