Division Viol 1660 - 1700

"Division Viol" is a Baroque-era viol made by English luthier Richard Meares between 1660 and 1700. The instrument is crafted from wood with a rich brown varnish and features a carved female head at the end of the neck. The viol is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, New York, and is a remarkable example of English craftsmanship during this period. Meares, born in 1647 and died in 1725, was known for his skill in making viols, a type of bowed string instrument that was popular in Europe during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.