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Viola da gamba, bass
by Thomas Collingwood
(London, 1680)

viola da gamba by John Collingwood, London, 1680

Bass viola da gamba by Thomas Collingwood first shown after the restoration at the exhibition in Salzburg, 2007

An Important Bass Viola da Gamba by Thomas Collingwood, London, 1680, retaining its original label:

Made by Thos. Collingwood
Sold by John Miller, over-against the Fleece Tavern in Corn-hill, 1680

This is probably the gamba recorded in The British Violin, (BVMA, 2000), p.45. In the book the label is identical except that the name of the seller is recorded as John Fuller. In the present case the label is indistinct, but the restorer has placed a transcription of his reading of it next to the original. Provenance: Peter & Ann Davies Collection

New acquisition, being shown for the first time in Salzburg. Only two instruments are know to exist by Thomas Collingwood, both bass viols. Judging from the work and the ornamentation, he must have been in close contact with Richard Meares and Edward Lewis (in Kremsegg). This small bass viol is also suitable for the performance of the lyra-viol repertoire.

viola da gamba by Thomas Collingwoodviola da gamba by Thomas Collingwood
An extremely rare painting of an English
bass viola da gamba, ca. 1680 showing an
instrument very similar to the Collingwood viol.

Body length	686 mm
Upper width	313 mm
Middle width	242 mm
Lower width	394 mm
Rib height	122 mm
String length	685 mm