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Viola
Repaired by: Giuseppe Bossi
Date: 1900-1928 ca.
Place Made:Italy, Europe
Place Made:Stradella, Italy, Europe
Serial No: none
SignedWritten in black ink on paper label, mostly intentionally effaced: [illeg] / in Bresia
Printed on paper label with single line border visible through treble soundhole, the last two digits of year and last line of text written in pencil: GIUSEPPE BOSSI / LIUTAIO / Anno 1928 STRADELLA / Riperato
Printed on paper label with single line border visible through treble soundhole, the last two digits of year and last line of text written in pencil: GIUSEPPE BOSSI / LIUTAIO / Anno 1928 STRADELLA / Riperato
DescriptionThis instrument appears to be a pastiche made from old wood to look like an altered lira da braccio.
Top: two-piece softwood, cut off-the-quarter: wide grain converging on center joint; later
Back: one-piece, slab-cut maple: plain; wood pins through back into bottom block, top block, and neck heel; reshaped; ebony cap on button
Ribs: slab-cut maple: faint, irregular curl; reshaped
Head: maple; plain, later and likely German
Arching: low with no recurve
Edging: no recurve
Purfling: single black-painted line on top, none on back
Varnish: medium red-brown; later
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: missing
Tailpiece: missing
Pegs: four boxwood with concave heads, ebony eyes, and single collar ring; later
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: missing
F-holes: wings come to point; strongly curved stems; no notches
Linings: spruce; later
Corner blocks: spruce; small
Top block: poplar or willow
Bottom block: spruce
Bassbar: spruce
Other: circular saw marks on inside of ribs
Top: two-piece softwood, cut off-the-quarter: wide grain converging on center joint; later
Back: one-piece, slab-cut maple: plain; wood pins through back into bottom block, top block, and neck heel; reshaped; ebony cap on button
Ribs: slab-cut maple: faint, irregular curl; reshaped
Head: maple; plain, later and likely German
Arching: low with no recurve
Edging: no recurve
Purfling: single black-painted line on top, none on back
Varnish: medium red-brown; later
Fingerboard: ebony; later
Nut: missing
Tailpiece: missing
Pegs: four boxwood with concave heads, ebony eyes, and single collar ring; later
Saddle: ebony
Endpin: missing
F-holes: wings come to point; strongly curved stems; no notches
Linings: spruce; later
Corner blocks: spruce; small
Top block: poplar or willow
Bottom block: spruce
Bassbar: spruce
Other: circular saw marks on inside of ribs
DimensionsTotal viola length: 642 mm
Back length: 391 mm (15-1/2")
Upper bout width: 191 mm
Center bout width: 144 mm
Lower bout width: 244 mm
Upper rib height: 34-35 mm
Center rib height: 33-35 mm
Lower rib height: 34-36 mm
Stop length: 210 mm
Vibrating string length: 353 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 142 mm
Back length: 391 mm (15-1/2")
Upper bout width: 191 mm
Center bout width: 144 mm
Lower bout width: 244 mm
Upper rib height: 34-35 mm
Center rib height: 33-35 mm
Lower rib height: 34-36 mm
Stop length: 210 mm
Vibrating string length: 353 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 142 mm
ProvenanceLaurence Witten acquired from the Bisiach Collection, Venegono Superiore, Italy, 1968.
Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Purchased by the National Music Museum from Laurence Witten family, New Haven, Connecticut, 1984.
Terms
Credit Line: Witten-Rawlins Collection, 1984
Not on view
Object number: 03427