Viola d'amore, French, 1772, Jean Nicolas Lambert

Viola d'amore. Belly of two pieces of pine, with flame holes and single purfling. Arched back with purfling including an assymetrical tongue near the neck. Fillets of black-stained wood are inserted between the plates and the sides. The pegbox is decorated with stars stamped along the sides and has a carved head with conical cap, askew. Three brass position marks are located along the bass edge of the fingerboard. Seven gut strings and seven wire sympathetic strings, the latter tuned by pegs placed in the upper part of the pegbox, whence they run down the back of the pegbox bearing upon three nuts, two of ivory and an intermediate one of steel. The wires are attached to steel pins at the base of the instrument

Given by Mrs Press

Jean Nicolas Lambert made finely decorated stringed instruments of the highest quality at the Rue Michel le Comte in Paris from about 1743 until his death in 1761. His widow continued the business until about 1785, so this instrument, dated 1772, would have been made when the workshop was under her management. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the viola d'amore was particularly popular throughout Italy and Central Europe, and noted for its sweet tone. Seven gut strings were played by the bow, while seven 'sympathetic' strings placed underneath the fingerboard responded to the vibration.

W.344&A-1921