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To come across a German instrument that was constructed
before the Second World War is quite difficut - so to find an instrument
in exceptional and origional condition - such as this instrument
by Carl Wilhelm Blaun - that was built seventy-five years before
The Great War is a pretty rare find indeed.
Yes - it is quite safe to say that the form and
features of this instrument are both unusual and distinctive. If
you just think for a moment of what was being created by makers
in London at exactly this same time - this was the Golden Age of
bass making in England - with makers such as lott, Fendt and Kennedy
producing instrument of unsurpassable form, construction and beauty
then it seems to suggest that Blaun was making somewhat in isolation
with little idea of what other makers were creating in other countries
and indeed even those in his own country.
Yes there are many but here are a few;
i) The model is gamba-shaped with a flat back and
an upper angle crease that inclines by only a few degrees towards
the back button.
ii) The sides of the upper-block are convex. This has given the
upper area of the instrument its distinctive bulbouse appearance.
iii) The back and front is double purfilled in violin purfilling.
On the back the inner band appears to be a single thin ebony band,
the outer band a double-stringing of violin purfilling. Both purfilling
lines terminate in a geometric patern immediately below the back
button.
iv) The peg box is fitted with highly distinctive rosewood wooden
pegs that are origional to the instrument. It can be seen that
the ends of the pegs are inlaid with mother-of-pearl dots.
v) The tailpiece is origional to the instrument. It is inlaid with
a highly distinctive mother-of-pearl floral design and lower m.o.p-dot.
vi) The instrument still retains its origional wooden tailwire-peg.
Yes - the instrument bears its origional label on
the bass side back that says C.W. Blaun, Altona with 'Anno 1839'
written in ink near to the lower edge. On the treble side back
an indecipherable ink inscription reads something
like 'Repaired by Fage Berg 1965'.
Unfortunately not too much - but enough to tell
us that Blaun speciallised in the construction of double basses.
i) The Universal Dictionary of Violin Makers & Bow
Makers by William Henley (Amati Publishing 1973) has one line
as follows 'Double-bass maker at Altona-on-Elbe, 1840-1850.'
ii) German & Austrian Violin Makers by Karel Jalovec (1967)
writes 'Altona, circa 1840-1847. Skilled doublebass-maker'.
iii) Encyclopedia of Violin-Makers by Karel Jalovec (1968) writes
'Good doublebasses'.
We think that this instrument will prove most attractive
to a wide variety of people from collectors to Baroque players
wanting to find an instrument that has all the great looks and
features of a period Vieneese instrument for a fraction of the
price.
At less than half the cost of a named Classic English
instrument from the same period we think that you'll have to agree
that this is most attractive too.
One has to say that this is an instruments whose
looks are as intrequing as it is to play.
"What a joy it was to find info about
Carl Wilhelm Blaun basses on the internet, at your website.
I have a Blaun bass. I understand that his instruments look similar
and have the same wondrously short string length. Mine has a darker
brown/red-ish/golden varnish and was made in 1844. I have played
it full-time professionally in a symphony, opera and chamber work,
and have done restoration and improvements including heavy duty
steel/brass tuners and a state of the art C extension. I have heretofore
been unable to find anything on the internet about his instruments
and only one brief entry in an encyclopedia. Oh, joy! You have
made my day." - Angel P. - USA. December
2007.
"I think there is a little mistake in the description
of the bass made by
Wilhelm Blaun. The name of the place is Altona (not Antona). Altona
is now a
part of Hamburg, but in the early 19th century this little town
near the
river Elbe was a part of the Danish Kingdom. I myself a have bass
of the
same size and short string length as the one shown, mine is made
by a
Bernard Schuster Pilatuspol, Hamburg. Hope that helps and best
wishes from
Hamburg." - Thomas F. - Germany. October 2008
LOB (length of back) - 108.0cm (42.50in)
Width across upper bouts - 51.2cm (20.15in)
Width across middle bouts - 36.9cm (14.50in)
Width across lower bouts - 62.9cm (24.75in)
Depth of lower ribs inc both plates- 21.9cm (8.65in)
Body Stop - 57.3cm (22.50in)
String length - 102.4cm (40.30in)
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