Lute Body
Catalogue number: 11.1
Original name: Lute Body.
Maker: Raphael Mest.
Place of origin: Padua, 1627.
Overall size: Body length: 487mm; body width: 307mm; body depth: 145mm approx.
Technical description: 27 ribs. Strap button possible of ebony on left-hand side (end button missing).
Inscription: There are a number of makers and repairers鈥� labels on the lining, as well as other strips of paper with printed text and music manuscript used to line the wood, many of which are not original.
鈥淩ap[hael Mest in Fie]ssen, [Imperato] / del Misier Michael Hartung in Pa-/dua me fecit, Anno 162[7]鈥�
鈥淎ntonius Bachmann / Hoff Instrument und Laut[-]/tenmacherin in Berlin. 1753 / Reparirt.鈥�
鈥淩eparient / [?] / T A Matth? / in Berlin [?] / 1822鈥�
鈥淩ogers and Priestley me refecerunt / 探花直播 1891.鈥�
鈥淪oundboard Removed 1981 / Ronald Taylor / 190 Oxford Street, / Rugby. / Warwickshire. Tel. Pavilion 6285鈥�
General literature: Sparr.
Repair history: In the B Index, amended 1977, SD writes Originally by Rachael Hartung of Padua, 1627. A far larger and more complex neck in Baroque Theorbo style was probably added by Antonius Bachmann of Berlin in 1753 (repair label inside body).
Other repairs were effected in Germany in 1822, in 探花直播 in 1891 (Rodgers & Priestley).
The instrument was infested by worm in the late 1950s to early 1960s, as a result of which the Bachman neck broke away from the body at the joint (actually, the block itself came apart, leaving both sections intact).
The neck has been retained, and the remarkably well preserved pear also. A report on the feasibility and cost of possible restoration by David Rubio of Duns Tew, Oxon. was made in 1975. In 1981 this work was undertaken by Zachary Taylor.
Illustration references: See below.
Previous owner: Messrs A M & Royle A Shore. School of Music Committee members, donated an 鈥淎rch Lute of 1628鈥� in July 1895.
Previous catalogue number: B: Item 1.