Viola da Gamba Society of America

Size:

Treble

Label Text:

Place Made:

GB, London

Maker:

John

Rose

Date:

1600 C

[None]

Body Shape:

Viol

Current Location:

CDN, Toronto, Ontario

Sound Holes:

C

Collection:

Hart House, University of Toronto

No. of Strings:

6

Catalog Number:

​

Head:

Male

Previous Owner:

Arts & Letters Club and Hart House, Toronto, 1932-35; Massey Foundation et al., Toronto, 1919-32; W. Howard Head, Vancouver, 1910-1919; idem, London

Information Source:

Morton 2010, pp. 51-53; W. Grunsky to G. Lyman 1/64; PT visit (unknown date)

Literature:

Photographs:

Recordings:

Auctions:

Comments:

Eatock 2010; Morton 2010, pp. 51-53

Morton 2010, pp. 51-52 (FB+SS, head 3/4); Voix Humaines 2009 (head front); [by TGM: in display case 1/07, front 3/4 (color)]; [unpublished, sent to PT: front 3/4]; [unpublished, from J. Pringle: FB+S body only, head FB+S 3/4 (color)]

Voix Humaines 2009 (Purcell)

​

2-piece table with low arch, 2-piece back, both with double purfling; ribs also have double purfling outlining each of 6 sections. Now has a tenor neck (too long for body); with proper length, SL perhaps about 44 cm. Once had a fold in lower bout to permit playing on shoulder. Fine Ulysses head, almost identical to that now on Caldwells’ festoon Rose bass. Repair inscription: “Restored pegbox, ribs and back to their original form. Made fingerboard, tailpiece and bridge. G. St. George London 1899.” Morton 2010 (from 1982 appraisal by M. Remenyi): neck is modern, pegbox covered with intricate floral carvings and purfling inlay; (from pre-1982 description by B. Pronger): ribs cut down, probably in 19th C., with second fold to allow playing under chin, and pegbox modified; these changes undone by St. George; dimensions (from 1974 appraisal by W. Monical): 42.5, 20.55/14.9/25.0, 9.2, 49.4. Attribution to Rose by B. Hebbert, 2009, based on similarity of carved head and texture of maple on back and ribs to 1598 Rose tenor (ASHMOL 5).