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Viola by George Duncan, Glasgow, 1886
About George Duncan
George Duncan was born in Kingston-on-Spey on the 17th of January 1855. His father was employed as a ‘carrier’: Kingston had a thriving shipbuilding industry and the role was likely that of porter, carrying good about the docks. In 1862 there were 57 carpenters and joiners employed in the shipbuilding yards: the presence of so many highly skilled woodworkers in a small Morayshire village must have had a great impact on the young George.
By 1875 Duncan had taken over a workshop in Glasgow's Brunswick Street. Still in his very early twenties, he gives the impression of an ambitious and hard working young man. His work was to be rewarded at the London Inventions exhibition of 1885, where he beat the great Hungarian maker Béla Szepessy to the gold medal!
Despite finding professional success, Duncan made the decision to leave Glasgow and emigrate to Canada in 1892. Duncan had found himself having to appear as a witness in a sensational court case involving the Glasgow dealer David Laurie and a fraudulently-presented Strad: we have to wonder if that experience and the resulting damage to the violin industry informed his decision making process.
About the viola
This viola was made in Glasgow in 1886 and is modelled after the instruments of Stradivari.
The viola has a two piece back of quarter sawn maple with ribs and scroll to match. The front is two pieces of straight-grained spruce and the varnish is a shaded amber-brown in colour.
The viola has a length of back of 16 and 5/8ths.
How does it sound?
This is an incredibly resonant viola. Though it has lots of richness, there's also a lot of lively projection in the sound. This viola would make an excellent quartet instrument, able to blend in or shine out with ease.
Condition
The viola is in excellent condition.
Certification
The viola bears its original label and is featured in David Rattray's 'Violin Making in Scotland'. Although no longer in use, the original bridge remains with the viola.
Further information
Please get in touch for more details about this fine Scottish viola by George Duncan for sale and a member of our team will get back to you.