Viola d’Amore

anonymous, Lorenzo e Tommaso Carcassi [rejected attribution], c. 1750

The viola d’amore has seven gut strings and seven metal strings. The melody is bowed on the gut strings (the melody strings). While the metal strings are not bowed, these auxiliary strings (the sympathetic strings) vibrate in sympathy when the melody strings are played, enhancing the overall sound. Famous 18th-century composers such as Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach wrote music specifically for the viola d’amore.

  • Artwork typebowed instrument, case, musical instrument, stringed instrument, viola d'amore
  • Object numberBK-2022-140
  • Dimensionsheight 81 cm, width 23 cm x depth 12 cm

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Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Viola d’Amore
    • Viola d'amore

  • Object type

  • Object number

    BK-2022-140

  • Description

    Belly of two pieces of spruce with f-shaped sound holes. Back and ribs in maple. The pegbox is decorated with stars stamped along the sides and has a finely-carved finial in the form of a woman's head, garlanded with flowers. The fingerboard and tailpiece are not original. The label reads: 'LOR.° E TOM.° CARCASSI / In Firenze nell’Anno 1753 / All’Insegna del Giglio'. The features of the instrument, however, do not align with the Carcassi style; instead, they show typical elements of the French school.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    label, inside the case, Printed: ‘'LOR.° E TOM.° CARCASSI / In Firenze nell’Anno 1753 / All’Insegna del Giglio'.’

Creation

  • Creation

    • anonymous, France
    • musical instrument maker: Lorenzo e Tommaso Carcassi, Florence [rejected attribution]

  • Dating

    • c. 1750
    • 1753

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Material and technique

  • Dimensions

    • height 81 cm
    • width 23 cm x depth 12 cm

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Gift of Elly Lammers and Gerrit van der Veer, Lelystad

  • Acquisition

    gift 2022-12-13

  • Copyright

    Public domain

Documentation

  • Giovanni Paolo Di Stefano, 'Instrument van de liefde. De vergeten schoonheid van de viola d'amore', Tijdschrift Oude Muziek, 2023/3, p. 14-15

Persistent URL

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  • Viola d’Amore
  • Viola d’Amore
  • Viola d’Amore
  • Viola d’Amore
  • Viola d’Amore
  • Viola d’Amore