A 16 inch beautiful antique hand made viola, made in Western Germany year circa 1950, in the style and measurements of the great Italian Master Antonio Stradivari.  Beautifully restored and set up to perfect playing condition with new ebony pegs, Dominant strings, Despiau bridge, 'Wittner' tailpiece, and an ebony chin rest.  A beautiful, warm and colourful tone.

This type of Antique German viola was usually made in a small workshop by a team of craftsmen, each carefully hand carving the different viola parts, and then other workers assembling and varnishing.  Most of these "trade violas" (instruments made in a group workshop setting to be exported and sold by those in the trade of selling violas), were primarily made from the 1870's - 1930's.  These instruments were mostly made in Germany, France or Czechoslovakia, but some other countries also produced instruments. 

 The vast majority of Trade Instruments were simply labeled with a facsimile (copied) label of a famous maker like Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri and many others. It has been estimated that over 5 million of these "trade instruments" were made during this time period.