Cello and Viola d'amore (Eighteenth-Century Bowed Lute and String Bass)
Musical instruments; decorative and functional art objects • Anonymous German and Czech luthiers; Viola d'amore attributed to the school/region of the Czech Republic
Style & Movement
Late Baroque musical instrument craftsmanship
Medium & Technique
Carved and constructed spruce (top), maple (back/sides), and ebony (fretboard/tailpiece/pegs); spirit and oil-based varnishing
Creation Period
Circa 1720–1730 (Cello c. 1720; Viola d'amore c. 1725)
Dimensions & Format
Cello: Full size (approx. 75 cm body length); Viola d'amore: Approx. 40-45 cm body length; vertical museum display format
Subject Description
A pair of historical stringed instruments displayed in a museum setting. The taller instrument is a four-string Baroque cello; the smaller is a viola d'amore featuring seven playing strings and additional sympathetic metal strings running under the fingerboard, terminating in a pegbox with numerous pegs.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair (Vintage/Antique condition). Exhibits significant wear consistent with age and performance use.
Estimated Market Value
Cello: $20,000 - $50,000; Viola d'amore: $8,000 - $15,000 (dependent on maker identification and structural integrity)
Auction Estimate
$25,000 - $60,000 for the pair
Provenance History
Formerly from the Fiske Collection, Claremont University Consortium. Previous professional provenance likely includes use by European court musicians.
Art Historical Significance
These instruments represent the peak of Baroque acoustics. The viola d'amore specifically highlights the 18th-century fascination with 'sympathetic' vibration, later immortalized in works by Vivaldi and Prokofiev.
Notable Features
The viola d'amore features a unique 14-peg headstock (7 for playing, 7 for sympathetic strings) and flame-shaped sound holes, which were stylistic markers of Bohemian luthiery in the 1720s.
Condition Issues
Visible cracking in the spruce tops (typical of dry wood age), significant varnish wear/abrasions from handling, woodworm holes possibly present upon close inspection, and age-related darkening of the patina.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strict climate control (45-55% humidity) to prevent further wood shrinkage; professional luthier consolidation of top-plate cracks; avoid direct UV light exposure to preserve remaining varnish.