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The Viola da gamba by Thomas Collingwood 
London, 1680 There are only two instruments know to have been built by Collingwood, Judging from the style, the ornamentation, the arching of the belly and the varnish, he must have worked under the influence of Richard Meares. The following is a photographic documentation of the restauration by Jan Stejskal, Prague. This bass viol, one of seven English viols of the 17th Century in the collection, produces a very mellow, warm, resonant sound: the previous (by Dietrich Kessler) and the present restorations have apparently successfully rid the instrument of the ailments of worm damage: this viol will live on to sing many a tune ... See also: Orpheon Panorama Music: Trio in A-major for baryton, viola and basso by Anton Lidl To order a CD: http://festesdethalie.org/formulaireCD.htmlhttp://www.orpheon.org/OldSite/Seiten/Instruments/vdg/vdgb_collingwood.htmhttp://web.mac.com/vazquezjose/iWeb/Orpheonhttp://festesdethalie.org/formulaireCD.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2
Viola da gamba by Thomas Collingwood, London, 1680
Viola da gamba by Thomas Collingwood, London, 1680
The viol at its first exhibition after restoration: Salzburg, 2007
Viola da gamba by Thomas Collingwood, London, 1680
The scroll is original
Decorations typical for a 17th C. English instrument
The viol bears its original label.
Thomas Collingwood had his workshop on London Bridge.
Reconstruction of London Bridge at the time of the making of this viol.
Restoration by Jan Stejskal
Restoration by Jan Stejskal
Restoration by Jan Stejskal