From the Archive: a violin by Gasparo da Salo, Brescia, late 16th century

This illustration of a Gasparo da Salo violin was published in The Strad, September 1973. The following text is extracted from the article accompanying the photographs:Very few violins by Gasparo da Salo (c.1542-1609), the celebrated Brescian maker, whose actual name was Gasparo di Bertolotti – the ‘da Salo’ being derived from the name of his birthplace on Lake Garda – now exist.

Illustrated here is a well-preserved example in the possession of Mr Jose Martinez Canas, of Puerto Rico, to whom we are indebted for the photographs and details.

This violin, which bears an undated label, was made in the latter part of the 16th century. The two-piece back is of curley maple of evenly marked figure of medium width, the sides to match, the scroll of slightly figured maple. The table is of spruce of regular medium grain. The varnish reddish brown in colour. The measurements are: Length 13 7/8 inches bare, Upper Bouts 6 5/16 inches; Middle Bouts 4 3/8 inches; Lower Bouts 7 7/8 inches.