Bow for viola da gamba.

Instrument

Bow

Instrument Family

Bows

Date Made

Mid 18th century, the stick possible earlier

Description

Technical description: The straight, stained hardwood stick is rounded along its entire length, including over the frog. It ends in a short swan head. The bow has an open, screw-mechanism, sloped, boxwood (?) frog and a cylindrical bone button. Measurements: Weight: 52g. Hair length: 500mm. Balance point: 231.5mm. Head height: 18.6mm. Head width: 9.5mm. Face length: 30.4mm. Tip diameter: 6.7mm. Frog diameter: 9.1mm. Nipple range: 1.7 to 1.65. Period of oscillation: 1.23. Distance from pivot to tail: 66.9mm. Button length: 14.1mm. Ferrule width: 9.3mm. Frog + stick height: 29.1mm. Frog top length: 45.3mm. Repair History: The cracks at the frog end of the bow are repaired with thread. No inscriptions. Decorative features: The button with a rim decorated by three lines. There are cracks around the head mortise, near the stick mortise, and near the button at the end. The head is chipped. The bone button is partially chipped off and missing. The frog is scratched. The cracks at the frog end of the bow are repaired with thread. Purchased by lenders with and possibly formerly used with bass viola da gamba (3356). Previous ownership: Sold with viola da gamba (3356) by Messrs J. & r. Glen to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1908. Curent ownership: Lent by the Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland, NMS 1908.260A. (Glen Collection).

Notes

D.P. Martin, 27.10.93; Brenda Neece, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004.

Measurements

604

Provenance

Sold with viola da gamba (3356) by Messrs J. & R. Glen to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1908.; Lent by the Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland, NMS 1908.260A.

Collection

Glen Collection; MIMEd

Accession Number

3357