Viola da gamba Treble by Salomon workshop

Paris, 18th century

Catalog 87. Viola da gamba, treble, Salomon Workshop, Paris, ca. 1740

Evidence of an early form of recycling: the back and the ribs of this instrument come very obvioulsy from a tenor or perhaps a bass viol of the 17th. Century which may have been damaged at the time. The luthiers of the Salomon Workshop used those parts to construct a treble viol, adding a new top and a beautifully ornamented cut-through scroll.

 

 

For several years this young computer programmer and engineer, Julian Grahsl, Vienna, Austria had access to this treble by Salomon: he is intensely devoted to the viola da gamba! Just recently, however, he was able to acquire his very own treble viol, seen in the photograph above.

Body length mm
Upper width
mm
Middle width mm
Lower width mm
Rib height mm
String length mm