Viola, Giovanni Grancino, Milan, 1662, maple, fir, poplar, walnut, ebony, ivory, mother of pearl, tortoiseshell, gold leaf. Provenance: purchase - Natale Gallini collection (1957-1958). (inv.n. ST. MUS. n. 13)

This viola is an extremely rare example of a 17th century musical instrument. In fact, with the exception of the varnish, it has not been subjected to the transformations and modernisations that were carried out in the 18th century to adjust instruments to new musical requirements.

The singularity of the viola, built by Giovanni Grancino, is accentuated by its unusual profile and the decorations in ebony, mother of pearl and tortoise shell on the fingerboard and tailpiece and under which lies a thin sheet of gold, giving a particular brightness to the inlay.