Viola
Maker
Leonhard Maussiell
Date1731 ca.
Place MadeNuremberg, Germany, Europe
Modelflat back
Serial No.none
SignedPrinted on paper label, the last two digits of year in black ink, mostly effaced: Leonhard Maussiell, Lautten- / und Geigenmacher in Nürnberg. 17 [31]MarkingsWritten in black ink on small paper label visible through treble f-hole: M-855
DescriptionThis large viola has features characteristic of the viola da gamba family, including flat back, top and back that do not overhang the sides, and non-recurved corners. it's original, dark varnish is well preserved.
Viola with flat back, no overhang of top and back, and no corner recurves
Instrument was modernized and repaired in the mid-19th century with new neck, back lining, bassbar, and possibly other internal components
Top: two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain
Back: one-piece, slab-cut maple: faint, narrow irregular curl; small wings at edges of lower bout
Ribs: quarter-cut maple: faint, narrow curl; upper and lower ribs overlap center ribs
Head: maple: plain; pegbox with shoulders
Neck: maple: narrow curl; grafted, later
Arching: high on front; none on back
Edging: deeply scooped on front, none on back
Varnish: dark red-brown with craquelure
Fingerboard: ebony; ridge along underside of center; later
Nut: ebony; later
Tailpiece: ebony; later
Tailgut: red gut
Pegs: four ebony; later
Saddle: ebony; later
Endpin: ebony; later
F-holes: strongly curved wings; rounded notches
Linings: open-pored hardwood, possibly walnut
Corner blocks: spruce
Top block: spruce; later
Bottom block: spruce; later
Bassbar: spruce; later
Other: center portion of back lined in spruce with grain running side to side; hardwood low graft in upper bout running side to side; toothed plane marks visible under varnish at joints between top and back and ribs
DimensionsTotal viola length: 719 mm
Back length: 432 mm (17")
Upper bout width: 199 mm
Center bout width: 131 mm
Lower bout width: 252 mm
Upper rib height: 39-45 mm
Center rib height: 43-46 mm
Lower rib height: 44-45 mm
Stop length: 235 mm
Vibrating string length: 395 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 159 mm
ProvenanceFormerly in the collection of Rembert Wurlitzer, New York, New York. Given as a gift to Laurence Witten by Dario D'Attili, New York, New York, in 1972. Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Published ReferencesMaurice W. Riley, The History of the Viola Volume II, (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Braun- Brumfield), 1991, pp.79-80, 85 (photo).
Credit LineWitten-Rawlins Collection, 1984
Object number03428
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