The message from Kenneth Sparr (below) about the mystery lady with the Copenhagen Jauch lute, brought to mind two mystery lutes that I had read about in a book on the history of Brownsea Island.
I used to live in Poole, UK, near this island, and I seem to recall reading that two lutes from a musical instrument collection there, had been sold, a number of years before, for Pounds 5 each. I had thought, how cheap that was, and wished I had been around then with 5 "quid" in my pocket. Even if, Pounds 5 at the time (1927?) would have been worth a good deal more than now.* (*e.g. . Cheddar, cheese cost in average 17 pence per kilogram in 1923 and 490 pence in 1998, thus one lute would have cost roughly 70 Kilos of Cheddar, or about Pounds 150 to Pounds 200 in today's money, which still seems very cheap by any standard; although I am very partial to a true unpasteurised muslin-covered Cheddar). Of course had I been fortunate enough to have bought them, I wouldn't be here talking about them today ... I remember that there was a photo showing the lutes in a case (or on a wall) of what looked like the Brownsea "castle" library. However, I made a search this morning, and discovered that there had been a very important collection of musical instruments on Brownsea, known as the Charles van Raalte collection. I dare say, you all knew about that; but although I have often wondered about those lutes, I never thought I could find anything out about them, or the Brownsea collection, till today. The first indication given at http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/ cimcim/id/idtuk.html, states that the instruments are mostly now in Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/ euchmi/, or at Dean Castle museum. http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/ Default.aspx?Id=172 "A number of important instruments were purchased from the van Raalte Collection, Brownsea Island probably in 1927, as well as on the Continent. (For the remainder of the van Raalte Collection, see Kilmarnock, Scotland, Dean Castle.)" http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/cimcim/id/idtuk.html At Cecilia-uk, the collection (I think, the part in Edinburgh) is described as follows: =AB It included "plucked strings (e.g lutes, theorbo, chittara, mandora, guitar, mandola, cittern, harp, dulcimer, lyra); bowed strings including members of the viol and violin families; wind instruments including ivory recorders and flutes, flageolet, cornett, serpent; keyboards including ottavini, virginals, clavichord, spinet, harpsichord, positiv and portative organs; percussion instruments including 2 Ugandan conical drums." http://www.cecilia-uk.org/html/search/verb/GetRecord/1173 The Dean Castle museum http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/Default.aspx? Id=172, describes their part of that collection as follows: "For certain types of instruments this is one of the most important collections in the world. This applies to the instruments of the lute family, some of which are very old, particularly fine and well preserved. These date from as early as 1570, several being products of famous instrument makers of their time. The tops are made of maple wood; the backs are usually wholly or partly of ivory. Ivory is also used in the elaborate decoration found on several instruments." You can see some of the instruments at that web address. How the instruments came into the possession of the Dean Castle museum, is explained, thus : =AB The musical instruments on display at Dean Castle were collected, at the end of the 19th Century by Charles van Raalte of Brownsea, Dorset. His daughter, Margherita, married the 8th Lord Howard de Walden*, (*restorer of the castle, surporter of orchestras, but collector of fine arms and armour) and although several of her father's instruments were sold after his death, she brought many of the most historically important examples to Dean Castle. >> At first sight this seems to contradict the details about the Edinburgh University collection, which was possibly acquired in 1927 (see above). The telegraph states =AB in 1908, van Raalte had died but his wife Florence kept the island going until 1925 when she died and the island was sold by auction in 1927..." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/ travel/2007/07/28/et-brownsea-island-128.xml Thus some instruments could have been privately sold just after von Raalte's death in 1908, but Van Raalte's daughter would have taken the best part, to Dean Castle, some time between 1908 and 1925. The remainder were possibly, sold at auction to Edinburgh University Museum in1927. So where did those two lutes sold for Pounds 5 each go? Perhaps they were either sold off privately, just after van Raalte's death, or were sold to Edinburgh Univeristy in 1927. They should not be in the Dean Castle museum, as these are supposed to have been taken by Margherita herself to Dean Castle. Also, which museum has the best part of this collection? They both, not surprisingly, seem to lay claim to this happy situation. Did van Raalte (who is described a s a Dutch immigrant) bring some of this collection with him from Holland? Was he a musician, or musically inclined? Perhaps, some one in the list knows that. I can only find descriptions of him hunting and playing golf, enjoying the outdoor life (and being a good friend to Baden Powell). Would this just have been a museum of musical curios? There seem to be books on local geology by him and on flowers by his daughter, but no evidence that I can find (on the web) of musical activities. Following the demise of this instrument collection, the island fell into the hands of a Mrs Mary Bonham Christie, a lady known locally as, "the Demon of Brownsea", who expelled the island's inhabitants, more effectively than did the Irish potato famine in Ireland, or the sheep in Scotland. The island then went into a state of "natural" ruin. I well remember the circling herons, when I used to land there as a trespassing lad, until I would be chased off by her menacing guards with their dogs. The National Trust now owns this island, but none of the lutes, to the best of my knowledge. Regards Anthony PS I am absent for ten days, so if anyone can shed any fruther light on this, I will be receiving it tomorrow, or in ten days time. > [LUTE] Re: A question > Date : 2 septembre 2007 17:31:31 HAEC > > Right. Who is the actress, then? > > Arne Keller. > > Right. Who is the actress, then? > > Arne Keller. >> Le 2 sept. 07 =E0 15:14, Roman Turovsky a ecrit : >> The lute on the postcard _IS_ the Copenhagen Jauch. >> RT >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Kenneth Sparr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "Lutenet (Lutenet)" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 9:08 AM >> Subject: [LUTE] A question > > >>> I have recently come across a photographic postcard, probaly >>> dating from >>> the >>> early 20th century showing a young lady holding a theorboed lute, >>> similar >>> to >>> lutes made by Jauch. The photo is not very detailed and the lute >>> could of >>> course be a a 20th century reproduction, but it has the >>> appearance of >>> being >>> an old lute. If anyone could shed any light on this I would be most >>> grateful. >>> >>> The picture of the lute can be found at >>> >>> http://www.tabulatura.com/fototeorb585.jpg >>> >>> Best wishes >>> >>> Kenneth Sparr >>> >>> Stromstigen 25 >>> >>> S-149 51 Nynashamn >>> >>> SWEDEN >>> >>> >>> >>> Telephone: +46-852015561 >>> >>> www.tabulatura.com >>> >>> e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> To get on or off this list see list information at >>> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >>> >>> >>> >>> >> --
