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DHV:
925
Tourin ID:

Size:

Tenor ?

Place Made:

Maker:

D

Mainz

Johann Joseph

Elsler ?

Date:

1730 C

Label Text:

[None]

Body Shape:

Viol

Current Location:

GB

Edinburgh

No. of Strings:

7

Collection:

University of Edinburgh

Sound Holes:

Flame

Catalog Number:

333

Head:

Female

Private Owner:

Previous Owner:

Measurements:

Body Length:

44.4

String Length:

40.7

Rib Depth:

7.2

Upper Width:

21.1

Middle Width:

14.5

Bottom Width:

26.8

Information

Source:

Myers 1995, p. 39; Bevan 1990, p. 44

Literature:

MacCracken 2022, p. 86; Durkin 2021, pp. 20+142; Topham 2003, p. 141; Köpp 2000, p. 149; Myers 1995, p. 39; Bevan 1990, p. 44; Engel 1872, no. 166

Photographs:

On museum’s website (front [color]); Durkin 2021, plate 5 (front 7/8, head 3/4 and back 3/4[color]); Köpp 2001, p. 533 (front without head); Köpp 2000, p. 151 (front); Myers 1990, p. 59 (F+S); Bevan 1990, p. 44 (front)

Recordings:

Auctions:

Comments:

Elaborately inlaid fingerboard and tailpiece; strings fasten to crossbar on underside of latter; ivory hookbar; 3 pegs treble, 4 bass side. Köpp 2000, p. 149: a viola d’amore, c. 1730, probably by J.J. Elsler; blindfolded female head; metal ring on bottom rib for attaching a cord to facilitate playing such a large-bodied instrument a braccio. Myers 1995: anonymous viola d’amore or treble viol (no sympathetic strings); parchment rose; body measurements taken on back. Topham 2003: youngest growth ring is 1717 on both sides of 2-piece table, but probably not from same tree. Durkin 2021: attributed to Johannes Georgius Skotschofsky (Darmstadt) based on similarity to E.1553 in the Musée de la musique, Paris (with his label dated 1767); original fingerboard and tailpiece, purfling only on front; dimensions 47.0, 21.7/14.3/26.5, 6.8, 40.7.

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