AS01/ 61 Antique 15 3/8 viola. Labelled: ‘Made and sold by Charles and Samuel Thompson 1774’. Sound sample.
£16,000.00
AS01/ 61Antique 15 3/8 viola. Labelled: ‘Made and sold by Charles Samuel Thompson, Saint Paul’s Churchyard, LONDON 1774’. With Despiau bridge and Pirastro Eudoxa strings.
Professional player comment: ‘Rich, resonant and extremely responsive. Smooth sound and great depth. A real treasure!’
soundsample
One piece back of highly figured medium grain maple. Front of medium grain spruce. Neck and sides of highly figured maple. Amber-brown spirit varnish. Painted purfling. Neck grafted with ebony crown on button which is pinned. Branded ‘Thompsons London’ under back button. Ebony fingerboard, boxwood chinrest, rosewood pegs.
Charles and Samuel Thompson took charge of their family’s workshop around 1763. It was one of the many London violin shops who sold instruments by various outside makers but which were given the firm’s labels. Their shop was based at Sign of the Bass Violin in St Paul’s Churchyard, London between 1770 and 1790