Ernest Tschaggeny (1857–1914) was a violinist and a student at the Brussels Conservatory. He was also interested in the viola d’amore, for which he transcribed and arranged works. These manuscripts remain part of the collections of the Brussels Royal Conservatory today. During his career, Tschaggeny assembled a rich collection of historic bows by Tourte, Peccatte, and other renowned makers, as well as several remarkable instruments.
In 1920, following the death of his brother, Frédéric Tschaggeny donated the collection to the museum in accordance with Ernest’s wishes. The collection...
Ernest Tschaggeny (1857–1914) was a violinist and a student at the Brussels Conservatory. He was also interested in the viola d’amore, for which he transcribed and arranged works. These manuscripts remain part of the collections of the Brussels Royal Conservatory today. During his career, Tschaggeny assembled a rich collection of historic bows by Tourte, Peccatte, and other renowned makers, as well as several remarkable instruments.
In 1920, following the death of his brother, Frédéric Tschaggeny donated the collection to the museum in accordance with Ernest’s wishes. The collection consisted of 68 bows, five violins, four violas, a viola d’amore, and a gamba quartet, specially built for the donor by Hilaire Darche.
In 1940, at the beginning of World War II, six particularly valuable instruments were stored in a basement. By 1942, however, it became clear that unfavorable preservation conditions had damaged all the pieces. Some instruments were restored, while others remained broken into pieces, such as this violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù (inv. 3499).
