Scan 232
Catalogue of the Stearns collection of musical instruments, 1921
35 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 198. See the scan on archive.org.
1French scientist, to be more in accordance with principles of acoustics than the regular shape. According to Galpin (p. 87), the form is a reversion "to the original outline of the twelfth century."
31286. VIOLA …………………………………………….. England
4Somewhat larger than the Violin, but of the same form. The stringing is c-g-d'-a'.
5Length, 66 cm.; width, 23 cm.; depth, 6.8 cm.
71287. TENOR-VIOLA DA BRACCIO ………………………. Italy
8Peculiarly shaped sound-holes. Reddish-yellow varnish.
9Length, 71 cm.; width, 29.8 cm.; depth, 8 cm.
111288. QUINTON. Eighteenth century …………………… England
12Body with sloping shoulders. Five strings. This instrument belongs to the viol family and generally has the flat back characteristic of that type.
13The stringing of the Treble Quinton is g-d'-a'-d''-g''; of the Tenor, c-g-d'-g'-c''.
14Length, 62.5 cm.; width, 21 cm.; depth, 5.8 cm.
161289. ARMGEIGE (Eng. Arm viol; Ital. Viola da braccio). Early date …………………………………………….. Germany
17Deep model. Flame sound-holes instead of the F-holes seen in the violin family. Viola da mano is a sixteenth-century Italian name.
18Length, 73 cm.; width, 24.5 cm.; depth, 7.4 cm.
201290. VIOLA DA BRACCIO. Eighteenth century …………. Italy
21Deep model with exaggerated outline. Flat back in four sections. Peg-box terminates in a carving representing a blindfolded female head. Length, 76 cm.; width, 28.3 cm.; depth, 5.5 cm. The label is illegible.
231291. VIOLA DA BRACCIO. Sixteenth, or seventeenth century …… Italy
24Narrow model. Six strings, arranged in the usual way, run over the finger-board and two bass strings run free at the side.
25Length, 73.5 cm.; width, 24.3 cm.; depth, 6.5 cm.
26Signed—"Gaspero da Salo, da Brescia."
281292. VIOLA. Sixteenth century. Unusually broad base …….. Italy
29Length, 63 cm.; width, 36 cm.; depth, 9 cm.
30Signed—"Gio. Maria del Bussetto, fece in Cremona." The date is sufficiently illegible to be misleading.5
325 Apparently the date is 1546, but, as Busetto's dates fall a century later, 1646 would be more probable. one of two readings
335 Apparently the date is 1546, but, as Bussetto's dates fall a century later, 1646 would be more probable. one of two readings
34It is possible that the label is a forgery, but, in general, those who deal in spurious products in this field are meticulous in such details as dates, possibly as the only evidence of good faith they can offer.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.