Chest containing parts.

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Description

Technical description: Mahogany box with hinged lid, decorated on the outside with brass inlay. Handles on sides. Lock with key. Overall length 517, overall width 292, overall depth 129. Top decorated with inlaid brasswork. Interior consists of a base level and lid level, each covered in red velvet cut to receive exhibits, and 2 trays fitted for exhibits. The base level has eight violin scrolls and a viola d'amore scroll. The lid level has a viol fingerboard, eight tailpieces, two bridges and four violin pegs. The lower tray has a tailpiece, a violin bridge, two violin pegs, two bow frogs, a box of tension screws, and a tray of endbuttons. The upper tray has bow tension screws, sets of violin pegs, and bow frogs.Base level:-(i) Viola d'Amore neck and scroll. Handwritten note in ink under where the fingerboard goes (at the sympathetic string level) "GERMAN - Viol d'Amour / 8. Strings & 8. Sympathetic. d o". No nut or fingerboard. One piece, hardwood, possibly birch, varnished on the heel and head, yellow in colour with an almost opaque texture. The varnish has chipped away in many places to the wood. Overall length 354, neck length 129. Sympathetic string nut and runner of ivory. Pin holes in top of neck sides (for attaching the fingerboard?). Violin type scroll. Undecorated flat covering below main bowed strings and above the sympathetic strings. 8 bowed and 8 sympathetic strings, the played nut slot 5.6 wide, nut width 26.7, end width 34.1.(ii) Violin neck and finial. Handwritten in ink on the top of the neck "Fine Old German". Heel cut off. Made of beech, one piece. Dark brown varnish. Fingerboard missing, nut present. Nut 4.4 wide, 5.7 high in centre. Neck length 92.5, nut width 23.2, end width 28.3. Neck unvarnished. Fine lion's head finial, the back of the head carved in a fish scale pattern. Overall length 217. Maximum depth of head 48.(iii) Violin(?) neck and finial. Handwritten in ink on the top of the neck "Old Venetian". One piece, sycamore, medium figure. Neck and heel unvarnished, head varnished a dark brown colour. Nut and fingerboard missing. Glue trace remains of the nut showing it was 6.0 wide. Neck length 133, nut width 23.3, end width 33.4. Now angled for modern violin set-up, 83° to the front of the heel. Superb lion's head with an ebony tongue finial. Overall length 248, maximum depth of head 44.(iv) Violin neck and scroll. Handwritten in ink (now faded) "Old Scroll - sold by ...", the last part illegible. Sycamore, one piece. Amateur made of poor quality. Nut and fingerboard missing, remains of the nut show it was 4.0 wide. Neck length 128, nut width 22.7, end width 29.7. The head and volute are in the shape of leaves, the inner part of the scroll is inverted, with crudely executed carving. No sign of varnish. Traces of a red iron-oxide pigment. Angled for a modern set-up, 81°. Traces of mould damage to the heel. Overall length 248, maximum depth of head 53.(v) Violin finial. Handwritten paper label "Northern Italy". Cut off just in front of the (now missing) nut. Neck was grafted on. Glue traces show the nut was 4.7 wide. Nut width 22.3. Good quality lion's head finial, no teeth, trace to suggest it originally had a tongue. Sycamore. Dark brown varnish. Overall length 131, maximum depth of head 52.(vi) Violin finial. Handwritten paper label "Old Violin - Marcus Stainer". Cut off in front of the (now missing) nut. Sycamore. Appears to have several repairs (possibly by the original maker) to show that the nut was 4.9 wide. Brown varnish, translucent quality. Finely carved finial in the shape of a lion's head with upper teeth and tongue. Overall length 119, maximum depth of head 48. Nut width 23.3.(vii) Violin finial. Handwritten paper label "German". Cut off just in front of the (now missing) nut. Traces to show the nut was 4.7 wide. Nut width 23.0. Carved dragon's head finial. Brown varnish. Overall length 120, maximum depth of head 60.(viii) Violin finial. Handwritten paper label "Old Italian Violin". Sycamore, dark brown varnish. Has been cut off just in front of the (now missing) nut. Traces to show the nut was 2.0 wide. Nut width 20.4. Neck was grafted onto the head. Damage around the peg holes caused by peg drill or reamer. Finial of a carved lady (angel?), her head surrounded by a wreath of leaves. The head has at some stage come unglued from the remainder, and has been glued back out of alignment. The finial carving is of fine quality. The back of the head has a repeating pattern of horizontal relief cut curves. Overall length 135, maximum depth of head 63.(ix) Violin finial. Handwritten paper label "5 string viol. Italian". Sycamore, dark brown varnish. Has been cut off just in front of the (now missing) nut. Scratched traces to show the nut was 5.1 wide. Nut width 24.5. Carved finial in the shape of a lion's head with tongue, very finely carved. The four tuning peg holes have carved relief work around the edges, there are plugged holes in the outside which don't go through the entire side walls and which don't have the carving around the edges. These holes are between holes 2 and 3, the inside of the pegbox has had added pieces (which would therefore hide any through holes), so it is possible it started as a five string instrument and was later converted. The shape also suggests a conversion took place, the carving on the sides being done after it was altered. Overall length 112, maximum depth of head 49.Lid level:-(x) Viol fingerboard. Handwritten on back "Most of the old fingerboards were ~built up~ on maple / beech(?), or other hard woods base and veneered with / fancy woods - ivory - inlays &c". Fingerboard topped with ivory, with ebony edges, over a base of beech, carved at the bottom to reduce weight. Marks on the top indicate it came from a 6-string viol. Nut width 38.8, lower end width 53.9. Overall length 256.5.(xi) Tailpiece, Viola(?). Rosewood, angled top with an extension for the treble string. Maximum overall length 152, minimum full length (bass side) 130. Rounded bottom. Holes for the gut to go through underneath. Keyhole-shaped holes. Built in saddle for the strings.(xii) Violin tailpiece. Handwritten on back "FROM / OLD VIOLIN / BY THOMAS URQUHART / LONDON. 1650-80". Sycamore base, veneered with ebony and ivory, the ivory alternating with ebony around the edges in a herringbone pattern, surrounding ebony in the middle. Base gently curved underneath. 4 round holes for strings, all 1.95 diameter. 2 holes for the tailpiece gut, same diameter. Veneer 2.0 maximum thickness. Overall length 117, width at bottom (bottom fairly flat shape) 23.9, minimum width (25mm from bottom) 18.2, width at top 36.7. Typical total thickness 4.5. Distance between the centre of the outside holes 22.5, of tailgut holes 9.3. Some damage caused by gut.(xiii) Viola(?) tailpiece. Ebony, angled top. Overall length 142, minimum length 127. Carved underneath at the top. Rounded bottom. Tailgut holes go through the bottom. Keyhole-shaped string holes, built in saddle for the strings.(xiv) Violin tailpiece. Ebony. Overall length 116, width at bottom bout 25.2, minimum width 15.3, top 42.7. The bottom is curved to a point. Carved underneath to reduce weight at the top. Keyhole-shaped string holes, circular holes for the tailpiece gut through the face. String saddle of mother-of-pearl, 4.1 wide. Mother-of-pearl inlaid decoration (an ellipse 17 - 12 widths, and a circle 5.5 diameter).(xv) Viola(?) tailpiece. Ivory, angled head, extension for the treble string. Overall length 154, minimum full length 131. Rounded bottom, with a tendency towards a point. Holes for gut go through the bottom. Keyhole-shaped string holes.(xvi) Violin tailpiece. Black stained rosewood. Overall length 120. Carved underneath at top. Bottom curved towards a point. Keyhole-shaped holes, circular holes for tailgut through face. Chamfered bottom edge.(xvii) Violin tailpiece. Stained pearwood. Overall length 114. Rounded bottom. Lightly carved underneath at the top. Tailgut goes through bottom end. Keyhole-shaped string holes. Saddle for lifting strings doesn't go across the full width. Decorated on the face with an inlaid circle (3.2 diameter) and an engraved flower in mother-of-pearl.(xviii) Cello tailpiece. Handwritten on the underside "CELLO - / CONVERTED FROM - / BARAK NORMAN / VIOL DA GAMBA". Beech, thickly painted on the face with black paint now badly cracked giving an appearance similar to leather. Inlaid brass heart-shaped design decoration. Ivory lifting rim, and ivory strips at the bottom. Overall length 266. Keyhole-shaped string holes with two slots for each circle. Carved underneath. Very slight curve on end. No holes for gut, appears to have had metal dowels into a post originally. Width at bottom 53.3, minimum width 29.1 (81 from the bottom), top 54.8.(xix) Cello bridge. Sycamore. Overall width at top 60.5, at bottom 83.1. Maximum height 92.4 in middle. Bottom thickness 11.8, top 2.7. Four feet, sharp arch between feet 2 and 3, curved arches between others. Heart-shaped hole. Width between 1st and 4th strings 47.6 (straight line). Piece broken off on the treble side.(xx) Cello bridge. Sycamore. Overall width at top 68.9, at bottom 87.4, height in middle c 90.1. Thickness at bottom 11.4, at top 4.5. Two feet, Chinese style fretwork under a rounded arch. Flattened heart shape cut out decoration, circular hole 3.8 diameter above arch in centre. 1st to 4th string (straight line) distance 57.9.(xxi) Small violin peg. Rosewood with ivory button. Overall length 53.7, maximum width 19.3. Shank 8.6 - 5.9, 36.3 long. Ivory button flattened on top, 5.5 wide x 2.5 high. " holes (at 90° to each other) for strings. Scribed line on side of head.(xxii) Small violin peg. Rosewood with ivory button. Overall length 55.8, maximum width 15.85, shank 6.6 - 4.9, 38.6 long. Ivory button flattened on top, 3.25 wide x 1.7 high. 2 scribed lines on the side of the head, decorative turning between the head and shank.(xxiii) Violin peg. Ebony with ivory turning. Overall length 54.4, maximum width 25.5, shank 8.3 - 6.5, 28.4 long. Ivory turning between head and shank 4.4 high, 13.8 maximum width.(xxiv) Violin peg. Ebony with ivory turning, possibly from same set as xxiii). Overall length 48.8, maximum width 25.4, shank 8.2 - 6.5, 24.3 long. Ivory turning between head and shank 4.0 high, 13.75 maximum width.Lower tray:-(xxv) Violin tailpiece. Ebony. Overall length 124. Flat bottom, chamfered corners. Width at bottom 26.9, minimum 19.2, top 47.7. Carved underneath at the top. Abalone applied at the top above the string lifting saddle, and at the chamfered bottom. Keyhole-shaped string holes. Circular holes through face for tailgut.(xxvi) Violin bridge. Sycamore. Overall width at top 47.0, at bottom 41.1, height in middle c 33.5. Attached to board which is labelled underneath "Bridge of ~powerful~ tone". Two feet. Flattened heart without bottom point decoration. Cut outs in the leg sections. 1st to 4th string 35.5 (straight line).(xxix) Violin pegs (2). Horn. Attached to board which is labelled "Fine specimen of Horn Pegs / often sold (knowingly) as Tortoiseshell, / Pegs of long life". (a) Overall length 57.3, maximum width 22.9, shank 7.9 - 6.7, 39.4 long. (b) Overall length 63.3, maximum width 24.0, shank 8.3 - 6.4, 44.0 long.Endbuttons, displayed on board with circles, catalogued from the centre outwards, starting at 12 o'clock; corners top left to bottom right, starting at top left.(xxx) Endbutton. Boxwood(?), Maximum width 13.9, decoration on top ebony circular band with mother-of-pearl inside, mother-of-pearl with black centre and red engraving giving the impression of an eye.(xxxi) Endbutton. Pear; maximum width 16.3, mother-of-pearl band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxii) Endbutton. Pear; maximum width 16.2, mother-of-pearl band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxiii) Endbutton. Pear; maximum width 15.8, black band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxiv) Endbutton. Pear; maximum width 16.2, black band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxv) Endbutton. Pear; maximum width 16.2, mother-of-pearl band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxvi) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 16.5, missing band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxvii) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 16.0, ebony band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxviii) Endbutton. Pear; maximum width 16.1, mother-of-pearl band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxix) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 16.4, turned scribed line on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxx) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 16.3, turned scribed line on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge, wider turnings than (xxxix).(xxxxi) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.0, raised edge in centre shaped down to raised nipple.(xxxxii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 16.6, 2 turned scribed lines on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(xxxxiii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 14.4, 3 scribed lines surrounding inverted nipple.(xxxxiv) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 17.2, scribed line to raised ridge then nipple with inverted edge.(xxxxv) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 17.0, scribed line to nipple with inverted edge.(xxxxvi) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.7, scribed line near edge, then scribed line surrounding nipple with inverted edge.(xxxxvii) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 15.6, scribed line then mother-of-pearl centre.(xxxxviii) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 15.6, raised ridge, then scribed line, then mother-of-pearl centre.(xxxxix) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 14.9. mother-of-pearl centre.(l) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 15.7, mother-of-pearl centre.(li) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 16.6, ebony band with mother-of-pearl centre.(lii) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 15.4, mother-of-pearl centre.(liii) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 15.9, mother-of-pearl centre.(liv) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 15.6, mother-of-pearl centre with ebony dot.(lv) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.3, ebony band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lvi) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 14.9, ebony band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lvii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 16.3, turned step surrounding ebony band, in turn surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lviii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 13.4, ebony band on top.(lix) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 14.6, ebony band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lx) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.0, wide ebony band on top surrounding turned ivory ridge, surrounding ebony hollow then ivory nipple.(lxi) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.1, ebony band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lxii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 16.7, ebony band on top.(lxiii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 18.9, ebony band surrounding turned down edge to raised line then down to nipple.(lxiv) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 14.6, wide ebony band sloping down with ivory dot.(lxv) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 16.3, ebony band on top.(lxvi) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.5, ebony band surrounding scribed circle.(lxvii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.5, ebony band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lxviii) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 16.0, wide ebony band incorporating raised step surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lxix) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 15.5, ebony band on top surrounding turned nipple with inverted edge.(lxx) Endbutton. Ivory; maximum width 14.9, ebony band surrounding shaped down section to nipple.(lxxi) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 17.4, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxii) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 15.6, ebony band with mother-of-pearl centre.(lxxiii) Endbutton. Ebony; maximum width 12.4, mother-of-pearl centre.(lxxiv) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 15.5, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxv) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 17.1, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxvi) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 17.2, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxvii) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 17.0, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxviii) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 16.1, ebony band with mother-of-pearl centre.(lxxix) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 15.4, ebony band with mother-of-pearl centre.(lxxx) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 15.2, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxxi) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 16.7, ebony band with mother-of-pearl centre.(lxxxii) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 15.1, scribed line surrounding turned step surrounding mother-of-pearl centre.(lxxxiii) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 15.1, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxxiv) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 16.9, raised step surrounding ebony band and mother-of-pearl circle.(lxxxv) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 15.9, ebony band with mother-of-pearl centre.(lxxxvi) Endbutton. Boxwood; maximum width 16.1, turned step surrounding another turned step then ebony band with mother-of-pearl centre.Upper tray:-(cxvi) Pegs (3). Overall length 54.6, head length 18.1, rosewood. Labelled "French Rosewood pegs / 19th century".(cxvii) Pegs (3). Overall length 62.9, head length 19.6, ebony with mother-of-pearl flower inlay and dot on the top. Labelled "German pegs 1850".(cxviii) Pegs (4) and added part. Overall length 55.2, head length 18.9, ebony heads, metal shanks, screw through head, added part of metal, head shaped with hole in centre and two added prongs at the bottom, metal plate on top of heads around screw stamped "WALLACE PATENT". Labelled "Patent pegs by J Wallace, / 20th century".(cxix) Pegs (4). Overall length 56.5, head length 16.1, boxwood, each peg stamped from 1 - 4. Labelled "Boxwood pegs English / 17th century".(cxx) Pegs (4). Overall length 55.4, head length 18.1, ivory. Three of the pegs are similar, the other may be a replacement intended to match. Labelled "French Ivory Pegs / late 18th century".(cxxi) Pegs (4). Overall length 72.9, head length 27.1, ebony, pear-shaped head, probably French 19th century guitar pegs. Inscriptions: Stamped inscription on top of lockplate "SECURE / 5 / LEVER" on the left, "28" in the middle, and "O'BRIEN / LIVERPOOL" on it. Previous ownership: Purchased by H.I. Brackenbury at Puttick & Simpson, 18th June 1931 (lot 211) for £4/10/0. Current ownership: Government allocation to the University, 1991. (C.H. Brackenbury Memorial Collection).

Notes

D. Martin, 1993-94.

Provenance

Purchased by H.I. Brackenbury at Puttick & Simpson, 18th June 1931 (lot 211) for £4/10/0. ; Government allocation to the University, 1991.

Collection

C.H. Brackenbury Memorial Collection ; MIMEd

Accession Number

1069/C1