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Violoncello bow

Alternate name(s)

Cello bow
Bass viola da gamba bow
Bass viol bow

Date1690-1760 ca.

Place MadeParis, France, Europe

Modelnone

Serial No.none

Signednone
Markingsnone
DescriptionThis beautifully fluted French bow is of a transitional type, with a swan-shaped head and frog with screw adjuster. Such a bow would be suitable for use with either a violoncello or viola da gamba. The stick may have possibly been altered from a clip-in style to adjustable frog.

Stick: fluted over upper 2/3rds, reeded over lower 1/3rd; snakewood
Head: swan head; end of tip cut off
Handle: no nipple; ivory slider under frog with brass guide
Frog: ivory; decoratively cut outline; no slide; flat upper edge with groove designed to fit brass guide on handle
Adjuster: ivory; decoratively turned
Tip plate: none
Wrapping: none
Grip: none
Dimensions720 mm long
Stick length: 699 mm
Head height: 16.8 mm
Head width (bottom): 10.3 mm
Stick width near tip: 6.6 mm (top to bottom); 7.0 mm (side to side)
Stick width near middle: 9.5 mm (top to bottom); 9.6 mm (side to side)
Stick width at end of handle: 12.8 mm (top to bottom); 12.4 mm (side to side)
Frog height: 25.8 mm (front); 19.2 mm (back)
Frog length (top): 45.8 mm
Frog length (bottom): 48.6 mm
Frog width (top): 9.7 mm (front); 9.9 mm (back)
Frog width (bottom): 11.8 mm (front); 9.6 mm (back)
Weight: 89.4 grams
ProvenanceFrom Alexander Mackay-Smith Collection, Laurence Witten acquired from Emil Hermann, New York, New York, 1962.
Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten Family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Published ReferencesAndré P. Larson, The National Music Museum: A Pictorial Souvenir (Vermillion: National Music Museum, 1988), inside front cover.

Credit LineWitten-Rawlins Collection, 1984

Object number03388

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