321.322-71 Necked box lutes or necked guitars sounded by bowing with a bow

Bass viol. 6 strings. Ebony inlaid with mother-of-pearl, ebony ribs with ivory stringing. Object includes bow. The unique surviving example of Voigt’s work, this exquisite instrument and matching bow recall the opulent decoration of Joachim Tielke, with whom Voigt may have trained. The neck is decorated with four Greek gods and goddesses -- Apollo, Venus, Mercury and Diana -- inlaid in mother of pearl. In Greek mythology Mercury was supposed to have invented the lyre, and Apollo excelled at playing it. The lyre was traditionally regarded as the ancestor of viols, guitars and lutes.
V&A object number: 1298-1871.

The unique surviving example of Voigt’s work, this exquisite instrument and matching bow recall the opulent decoration of Joachim Tielke, with whom Voigt may have trained. The neck is decorated with four Greek gods and goddesses -- Apollo, Venus, Mercury and Diana -- inlaid in mother of pearl. In Greek mythology Mercury was supposed to have invented the lyre, and Apollo excelled at playing it. The lyre was traditionally regarded as the ancestor of viols.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
L2013.37.7
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 1210 mm; part: 665 mm; part: 360 mm; part: 670 mm x 140 mm; part: 305 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
ebony; mother of pearl; ivory
CATEGORY
Exhibitions Loans
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