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A well made instrument which has been restored by Andrew Dipper. The viola da gamba, held between the legs to play, developed in parallel with the violin family. The bass viola da gamba was widely used as a continuo instrument, in viol consorts, and as a solo instrument until the later part of the 18th century. Members of the Kaiser family also made plucked instruments and keyboard instruments. Purchased with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund, the University's General Council Trust, the Pilgrim Trust and an anonymous benefactor.
Viol
Matthias and Augustinus Kaiser

Instrument Information

Title

Bass viol

Alternative Title

Viola da gamba

Accession Number

2878

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

Circa 1700

Period

17th century; 18th century; 1690s; 1700s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Bowed strings and bagpipes case 6

Maker Information

Maker Name

Matthias and Augustinus Kaiser

Maker Biography

Matthias and Augustinus Kaiser are believed to have been brothers who worked as luthiers in Düsseldorf in the earlier eighteenth century. Their father was a luthier in the city and it is believed they learned their craft from him. The brothers careers as makers of string instruments flourished between 1701 and 1737.

Made In

No information recorded.

Description

Technical Description

This viol has a soundboard of spruce; ribs and back of cypress; neck, scroll and fingerboard of walnut, veneered in fruitwood, with ebony, ivory and fruitwood purfling (all not original); pegs of boxwood; nut of ivory. C-holes. The oval shaped rose by the bottom of the fingerboard measures 60.5mm x 48mm and is decorated with wood and parchment, rose centre 192mm from the top. Soundboard and back edged with ivory, ebony and fruitwood. Red-brown varnish. Barring inside the instrument on the back for the soundpost, lower bout and the fold. Back of 6 pieces - 2 central pieces and added pieces on the bouts. Hook-shaped scroll also decorated with ivory, ebony, and fruitwood.

Measurements: Neck 286mm long; fingerboard 441.5mm long, 52.8mm wide at the nut, 81.7mm wide at the bottom; soundboard arch 27mm.

Repair History: Restored by Andrew Dipper including a new neck, fingerboard, tailpiece and bridge. Label inside recording the repair glued to the bottom block.

Provenance

Purchased with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund, The University's General Council Trust, the Pilgrim Trust, and an Anonymous benefactor.

Classification

Instrument

Viol/Viols/Strings/Musical Instrument ; Viol

Instrument Family

Strings

Hornbostel Sachs Classification

314.122-71 ; musical instrument