Description
16" viola made by German maker Holm Viertel in 1925. Born in Zwickau in 1865, Viertel was a pupil of R. Paulus and worked for Eduard Reichers in Berlin. His first workshop was established in 1888 in Markneukirchen. In 1896 he moved to Aachen, where he workd until returning to Markneukirchen in 1915. While in Markneukirchen, he was assisted by his sons, Karl and Walter. This viola dates to his second period in Markneukirchen and is distinguished by the quality of its materials, especially its deeply flamed two piece back. The instruments spirit and oil varnish is based on a recipe aquired early in his career from Reichers in Berlin. A unique feature of Viertel's instruments is a bass bar placed after varnishing, a technique supposed to ameliorate the sound of a new instrument. This viola is in excellent condition and produces a warm, clear sound.
