Viola da gamba

Joachim Tielke

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Instrument

Viol/Viols/Strings/Musical Instrument ; Viol

Instrument Family

Strings

Maker

Joachim Tielke

Place Made

Hamburg ; Europe ; Germany ; Central Europe

Date Made

1696

Description

This viol has a soundboard of 4 pieces with flame/moon sound-holes. It has double purfling of ebony/sycamore/ebony/sycamore/ebony/sycamore/ebony. There is medium/light figure on the sycamore back and sides. Two piece back (plus piece in the lower bout on the bass side, c.50mm wide). There is no trace of soundpost plate. Neck and pegbox/scroll of sycamore. The back is arched, 14mm up at lower bout, 11mm at waist, and 5mm at upper bout; it cannot be determined whether this arching is fully or partly deliberate by the maker, or due to the fragile state of the instrument. Varnish a reddish-brown colour, some visible varnish runs. Fingerboard and tailpiece of pine, veneered in tortoiseshell and ivory to form floral/vine-like designs. The finial is a carved woman's head; pegs of boxwood. Measurements: Neck 296mm long; fingerboard 439mm long, 50.8mm wide at nut, 79.0mm wide at bottom. Inscription: Labelled "JOACHIM TIELKE / in Hamburg, An 1696" (the 96 is handwritten, the remainder printed). Decorative features: Fingerboard and tailpiece have marquetry work in tortoiseshell and ivory; relief carving on the neck and back and sides of head; finial carving of a ladies head. Soundpost missing. Associated with bow (3357). Specific literature references: Hipkins 1885, p. 25. Previous ownership: Sold with bow (3357) by Messrs J. & R. Glen to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1908; in 1885 it belonged to John Glen of J. & R. Glen (whereas other Glen Collection items belonged to the firm J. & R. Glen). Current ownership: Lent by the Trustees of the National Museum of Scotland, No. 1908.260. (Glen Collection).

Notes

D. Martin, 27.10.93, 1994.

Measurements

1144.

Provenance

Sold with bow (3357) by Messrs J. & R. Glen to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1908; in 1885 it belonged to John Glen of J. & R. Glen (whereas other Glen Collection items belonged to the firm J. & R. Glen). ; Lent by the Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland, No 1908.260.

Collection

MIMEd ; Glen Collection

Accession Number

3356

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