Viola
1678 | Jacob Stainer
The lion’s heads instead of scrolls are often viewed as particularly typical for Jacob Stainer’s creations. In fact, only relatively few instruments are equipped in this fashion, and furthermore other violin makers also chose this form of decoration. It is noteworthy that Stainer employed the lion’s heads mostly in connection with bird’s eye maple wood for the back and ribs. These instruments generally have a relatively dark but transparent varnish, which allows the irregular grain of this variety of maple wood to be easily appreciated. (rh)
The lion’s heads instead of scrolls are often viewed as particularly typical for Jacob Stainer’s creations. In fact, only relatively few instruments are equipped in this fashion, and furthermore other violin makers also chose this form of decoration. It is noteworthy that Stainer employed the lion’s heads mostly in connection with bird’s eye maple wood for the back and ribs. These instruments generally have a relatively dark but transparent varnish, which allows the irregular grain of this variety of maple wood to be easily appreciated. (rh)
Manufacturer:
Jacob Stainer (1618/19 Absam - 1683) DNB
Time:
1678
Object Name
Viola
Culture
Austria, Absam
Dimensions:
670 mm x 240 mm x 110 mm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente
Invs.
Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente, 1070