DHV:
963
Tourin ID:
Size:
Bass
Place Made:
Maker:
A
Absam
Jacob
Stainer
Date:
1673 C
Label Text:
Jacobus Steiner in Absom / prope Oenipontum mpia 1673 [handwritten; not original]
Body Shape:
Viol
Current Location:
CH
Basel
No. of Strings:
7
Collection:
Private Collection
Sound Holes:
F
Catalog Number:
Head:
Lion
Private Owner:
Yes
Previous Owner:
Hannelore Mueller, Basel, 1956-2022; F.C. Edler, Frankfurt/M, c. 1920-56; W.H. Otto, Markneukirchen, -c. 1920; Emil Burkhardt, Eisenach, c. 1905; Johann Ad. Gottlieb Riedel, Bayreuth, before 1773 - after 1802; Riedel’s father, who acquired it from a preacher’s widow in Nuremberg, 1744
Measurements:
Body Length:
69.2
String Length:
70
Rib Depth:
13.3
Upper Width:
31.4
Middle Width:
23
Bottom Width:
41
Information
Source:
T. Muthesius to TGM 8/19, 3/23; Senn & Roy 1986, p. 223 (A103); JVdGSA 6 (1969)-A: 65
Literature:
Senn & Roy 1986, pp. 223, 464
Photographs:
Senn & Roy 1986, pp. 415-18 (F+B 7/8, S, lion head 3/4; Mueller 1980, front cover (front 7/8); JVdGSA 6 (1969), p. 67 (front 3/4); [unpublished, from T. Muthesius 2/23: FB+S, head S & 3/4 (color)]
Recordings:
Mueller 1980 (Yesterday & Today); Mueller 1960 (Couperin & Marais)
Auctions:
Comments:
Back and ribs of bird’s-eye maple. Senn & Roy: label is a good fake. Converted to a cello in 1783; rebuilt as a viol in 1958 by E. Sprenger [Jr.], Frankfurt. H. Müller, Methodik des Viola da Gamba Spiels (typescript) gives dimensions 69.2, 31.2/--/41.2, 14.0, 69.8 and says restored by E. Sprenger Jr; later by G. Hellwig. New 7-string neck and pegbox (keeping original lion head) by T. Muthesius for new owner, 2023; his dimensions shown above (back widths 30.7/22.6/40.7).