Viola by Arthur Richardson, Crediton, 1945

About Arthur Richardson

Arthur Richardson was originally from Derbyshire but had his workshop in Crediton, Devonshire, for most of his career. He was largely self-taught as a violin maker, making mainly Stradivari model violins very successfully from around 1915. He is most well-known for his Tertis model violas.

Richardson met the viola soloist Lionel Tertis for this first time in 1937, sparking a collaboration that was to bring both men great success. Tertis had spent his career playing on very large instruments, most notably a a 1717 viola by Montagnana which measured a massive 17 and 1/8". Upon his retiral, Tertis threw himself into developing a new model for the viola which would have the rich sonority he favoured, without the challenges of getting around such a big instrument.

The resulting Tertis model viola, developed in collaboration with Richardson, achieved these goals through the design of a narrow upper bout with dropped shoulders which allows for ease of movement in the higher registers. The volume of the body is maximised by balancing this with larger lower bouts and higher ribs.

About the viola

This viola is number 44 in Richardson's output and is built on his Tertis model.

The viola has a two piece back of quarter-sawn maple with ribs and scroll to match. The front is two pieces of finely grained spruce and the varnish is a rich red in colour, laid over a golden ground.

The viola has a length of back of 16 and 13/16ths, or 427 mm.

How does it sound?

This viola has a classic tenor voice: it's rich and velvety and the bottom of the register, moving towards a cello-like singing tone at the top of the instrument.

Condition

The viola is in very good condition with some attractive varnish wear.

More information

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