Viola da gamba
Treble by Gio. Balla Bugger,
fecit Mantua, 1630 (or 1636)

(State of the instrument at date of acquisition)

Viola da gamba Joann Bolla Bugger

 

After restoration:

Viola da gamba Joann Boller Bugger Viola da gamba Joann Boller Bugger

Viola da gamba Joann Boller Bugger


Judging from the name, the maker probably came from the so-called “Allemanisch” region: South Germany, Switzerland, Western Austria. After the pest of 1630 many luthiers from the North settled in Italy to replace the deceased ones. The form of the instrument resembles that of the bass viol by Ventura Linarolo from 1585 (Nr. 97).  It is one of the earliest examples of a flame whole, although the Hans Busch viols of this period also show a variety of sound holes. This treble viol, one should note, is a contemporary of Monteverdi, also a native of Mantova, whose main instrument was the viola da gamba!

Recent investigations by Ugo Ravasio, Brescia, have demonstrated the presence of a group of violin makers predominantly in Brescia and Northern Italy, calling themselves "tedeschi" immediately after the demographical devastations of the pest of the 1630's. Apparently they immigrated to Italy to replace the luthiers who had perished during that plague. The second name on this magnificent treble viola da gamba cannot be read with certainty. Very clear are the first name: "Gio" and the last: "Bugger". The middle name has a very clear B at the beginning, then what appears to be an "a", followed by two letters, the first of which is probably an "L", the next could also be an "l" or a "t", the last letter is again an "a". Thus the name could be "Balla", "Balta". Given that the Italians do not use the letter "W", this could then be interpreted as an Italianisation of any of the following: "Walla", "Walta". The double g in Bugger points possibly to the "Alemanisch" region of South Germany, Switzerland and Austria, where it is spoken as "ck". (Pronounce English: "Booker"). However, if the use of the two g's is an adaptation to the Italian language, the name could have originally been "Bucher" (Pronounce English: Boo - her).

Neither Ugo Ravasio nor I have any clues as to this viol maker and would be very glad to receive any information our readers may have!

viola da gamba Raffaello 1518
A very similar instrument in painting:
Raffaello: Sancta Cecilia, ca. 1518


viola da gamba, Mass book 1564,
Another instrument of the same form, this time from a mass book
published in 1564 in Rome (Priv. collection Marc Strümper)
Note the similarity of the bridges in the two depictions

See also the bass viol by Ventura Linarolo, which has a similar outline

The Italian Renaissance and Early Baroque viols in concert:
Music for Charles V and Philip II

Juan Vasquez: Hermosissima Maria

Body length 382 mm
Upper width
 207 mm
Middle width 140 mm
Lower width 246 mm
Rib height 49 mm
String length 410 mm
.
updated 04.12.2009