Jonathan Hill Stringed Instrument Maker

Viola d’amore, 2021.
The blue/green colour and all decoration on this instrument is based on the legend of ‘die Lorelei’, a german poem by Heinrich Heine, in which an enchanting, seducing mermaid lures seamen to their death.
Every part has been made using traditional techniques and materials to fit with the theme.
For the colour I used an indigo carmine stain and phthalocyanine oil pigment.
Materials; Maple back & sides, pearwood neck and carved head, carved ‘clam shell’ boxwood pegs with pearl pips.
Spruce soundboard with twisted silver wire ‘rope’ Rosette and silver gilt bridge.
Mother of pearl inlaid pegbox, Ebony veneered fingerboard and tailpiece, with engraved silver plate tailpiece attachment. Oil paints.
7/7 strings - 37cm string length.
Photos by Gareth Hacker, London.

From earlier this year- 6/6 made from cherry wood back and sides / apple neck / spruce soundboard / ebony veneered fingerboard and tailpiece / ebony pegs / pine resin linseed oil varnish.
34.5cm string length / Late C17th setup.