Name of Instrument: viola da braccio

Maker / Brand: Gasparo da Salo [spurious?] (through Franciolini)

Stearns Catalog #: 1291

Country of Origin: Brescia, Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Chordophone

Date of Fabrication: 19th C.

Location: CHO D RA 3

Description: This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. In this case, it appears that he has tried to imitate a lira da braccia by incorporating bourdon strings that run off the side of the fingerboard--which incidentally, are non-functional as they cannot vibrate freely because they scrape the fingerboard. Alterations in purfling on the upper corners indicates that the table and back have been cut down. The neck is not original. It is difficult to tell what this instrument originally was. The label is obviously a fake, "Gasparo da Salo, da Brescia," and the craftsmanship is of the poorest quality.

Research: Dr. Bruce Mitchell Smith and Stearns Staff