Pardessus de viol

Five-stringed pardessus de viole, a descant viol. Conventional viol outline with sloping shoulders and corners without points. Fine and very even-grained front with C-shaped soundholes and double purfling. Golden varnish. Back and ribs formed of strips of contrasting wood; back of five radiating pieces, two of flamed maple and three of a darker brown wood; ribs of two strips of maple and one of the darker wood. Neck and pegbox of unfigured maple. Front edges of pegbox decorated with herringbone pattern of gouge cuts; finial is a female head, with two drop-earings and a crest of flowers. Pegs of ?rosewood; nut of ?bone. Fingerboard and tailpiece of ebony on ?maple underlayer.