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Viola d'amore

Viola d'amore with viol outline (sloping shoulders, flat back) and moustache-shaped soundholes with additional round hole. Spruce top. Back, ribs and neck made of flamed maple. Ebony unfretted fingerboard. Ivory nut. Fourteen ebonized wood pegs for seven melody strings (two silver-wound, five nylon) and seven sympathetic strings (silver or steel). The neck has a clearance groove for the sympathetic strings that run below the fingerboard. Maple bridge. Rosewood tailpiece, with tailgut and ivory saddle. This instrument is part of the Albert C. Spencer collection.

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  • Decorative elements:Pegbox finial in the shape of a blindfolded Cupid head. Single strip of ivory purfling.
  • Inscriptions:Paper label inside: Vicenzo Ruger detto il Per. / ln Cremona 1701
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:321.322-71 Necked box lutes or necked guitars sounded by bowing with a bow
  • Repository:Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton
  • Measurements:Height: 755mm; Width (lower bout): 225mm; Width (upper bout): 185mm; Body depth: 40mm