7/7 Viola d’amore by maximilian zachar, 1736

Currently held at the Germanisches National Museum, Nuremberg.

This 7/7 Viola d’amore, made by Maximilian Zachar in Wratislav. (modern day Bratislava, Slovakia) in 1736, displays simplicity and elegance in its design. It has a flat back made from flamed maple which is completely free of any decoration, two-piece Spruce front with an ebony edging and circular Rosette, Maple ribs, and a Maple neck with carved head depicting a blindfolded man/boy/cherub!

This instrument is in very good condition and seems to have had very little alteration work carried out on it, and the fingerboard and tailpiece are quite possibly original.

Body Length: 39.5cm

String length: 36cm

Two photos below show some details of the internal construction; Spruce linings, cross braces, Spruce soundest plate, corner blocks, and some reinforcement paper to hold the ends of the soundest plate glued down.

Pierced and carved Rosette and the end-pin and lower block area showing the saddle, tailpiece and metal pins that the sympathetics are attached to.

The upper and lower ribs overlap the C bout ribs (below) which is a very common feature on Violas d’amore, and the back of the peg box with fluting, and what could possibly be the original pegs..

I like this head carving a lot- the head has life and movement to it yet remains simple, direct and un-fussed.