This illustration of a viola by Daniel Parker was published in The Strad, December 1973. The following text is extracted from the article accompanying the photographs:

Daniel Parker’s existing instruments are very few in number. It is probable that many have never been identified as his work. Besides being one of the finest of the early English makers, very little has come to light regarding his life. We know that he worked in London during the first half of the 18th century and that he died, or ceased to work, around 1730. It is now known where or from whom he learnt his craft.

He was the first English maker to copy the models of Stradivarius in preference to those of Stainer. His instruments are now highly valued on account of their tonal merits apart from being representative examples of the very best in English violin making.

An illustrations of one of the very few violas by him is given here. The varnish is a pleasant golden colour. The viola is in a good state of preservation and bears its original label:

Daniel Parker

London 1714

Its principal measurements are: Length of Body, 16 1/8 inches; Upper Bouts, 7 7/8 inches; Middle Bouts, 5 5/16 inches; Lower Bouts, 9 ½ inches; String Length, 14 ½ inches.

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