MEDIEVAL VIOL
This 3-string instrument does not appear to be the ancestor of the renaissance viol. It flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries in Europe. The medieval viol here is based on a sculpture at Oakham Castle, England, and has a small central 'bump' separating the upper and lower bout sections of the front and back. It has a form of hook bar from the one-piece flat-back and ribs, which can be found in various European examples. The ribs are the same depth all round. The arm and separate fingerboard are added on to the main body and taper slightly in width to the peg disc. The low, flat bridge is placed centrally between the upper and lower bouts, and is separate from the tailpiece. All the strings could be bowed together. There are four D-shaped soundholes.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 940mm
Maximum width: 548mm
String length: 620mm
Tuning: g d' g' / g d' d'