Violas
Bohemian Small Viola, circa 1900
£5,000
Probably by a member of the Prokop family, this is a late 19th century Czech viola made on a Maggini model. It’s in great condition apart form a few dents and scuffs to the varnish. A very handy size, it has a dark and fruity sound, slightly melancholic, very musical. More details
Frantisek Karel Kriz Viola, Prague 1924
£8,000
FK Križ was one of the most talented Czech makers of the early 20th century, with a rare gift for sound. This del Gesu inspired viola is a great example of his work in near perfect condition. More details
Nicolas Augustin Chappuy Small Viola circa 1770
£12,000
This is a fine 18th century French viola of the “Vieux Paris” school. It has a very credible Guersan label but in fact it’s the work of Nicolas Chappuy showing many of his trademark touches. More details
James & Henry Banks Small Viola, Salisbury circa 1790
£14,500
This is a superb English viola by James & Henry Banks, sons of the great Benjamin Banks. Late 18th century England was really the golden period for smaller violas, and makers such as the Banks, Betts, Powell etc succeeded in making instruments which offer a rich viola sound in a smaller body. More details
John Wilkinson Viola, London circa 1930
£15,000
John Wilkinson was a highly talented English maker of the early 20th century, best known for the copies of classical instruments he made for J&A Beare. This viola is a lovely example of his copy style. More details
Frédéric Chaudière Viola, Montpellier 1990
£18,000
Frédéric Chaudière is one of the most respected of contemporary makers, and his name is known internationally. This is a lovely viola from his earlier period – it’s in good condition and the sound is terrific. More details
Albert Caressa Viola, Paris 1922
£22,500
Albert Caressa and Henri Français took over and renamed the firm of Gand & Bernardel in 1901. Français retired in 1920, and for the remainder of his working life Caressa made instruments for the company under his own name. This lovely viola dates from this last period of Caressa’s working life. More details
Paul Bailly Viola, Paris circa 1895
£26,500
Paul Bailly is the only maker from the Vuillaume shop who continued to work well into the 20th century, and his style is more individual and fluid than that of his co-workers like Maucotel, Derazey or Silvestre. This slightly undersized viola is a great example of his work in near-mint condition. More details
Joseph Couturieux Viola, Paris circa 1850
£30,000
Joseph Couturieux or Couturieux “Fils” is a little known maker who worked briefly for JB Vuillaume. This beautiful viola is something of an enigma – it has a Vuillaume label, it looks in many ways like a Vuillaume, yet it has an original Couturieux signature. More details
Gustave Bernardel Viola, Paris 1894
£45,000
It would be hard to find a more perfect example of French craftsmanship than this fine viola by Gustave Berarndel. It’s a real collector’s piece too, relatively unused and with a great sound. More details
Claude-Augustin Miremont Viola, Paris 1870
£47,500
For some reason CA Miremont managed to produce instruments of superb tonal quality while those around him sometimes struggled. In particular his violas and cellos are consistently successful and greatly appreciated. More details
Jean Baptiste Vuillaume Viola, Paris 1845
£135,000 On trial
JB Vuillaume can truly be said to have revolutionised the world of stringed instruments. No-one has had quite as much impact on violin-making since Stradivari. He rode a wave of demand, largely of his own creating, and produced thousands of instruments and bows of extremely high quality. In the process he trained up an entire generation of fine makers. More details
This page lists all our Violas
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