It is four feet in length, and originally it had six strings. 
Used as a Violoncello, with four strings, this instrument 
possesses a quality of tone unequalled by many of the finest 
Cremonese instruments. It was while in the possession of the 
late Dr. Steward, of Birmingham (father-in-law of the late 
Mr. Hart, of Wardour Street, the eminent violin expert and 
dealer), that the alteration of the neck and finger-board were 
made, and under his direction nothing was done to interfere with 
the original character of the instrument but what could be 
restored. He was careful in preserving the peg-box and scroll. 
After Dr. Steward’s death, the instrument passed into the 
hands of the late Dr. J. R. Liston, also a collector of stringed 
instruments, and it was from him that Mr. Horniman obtained 
it. 
Two views are here given of the instrument. In the front will 
be noticed the peculiar holes so characteristic of the maker. 
The body of the instrument has a border of inlaid ivory, on 
both front and back. 
There are one or two specimens by this maker in the South 
Kensington Museum ; otherwise, examples by Tielke are very 
rare in this country. 
The Viola-da-Gamba is about the size of the Violoncello, but 
has a flat back, like the double bass, the openings in the breast 
have not the “/” shape, but are variously cut. The finger-board 
was originally provided with frets, which were afterwards dis- 
continued. The six strings were usually tuned in fourths. 
This instrument is now dispensed w T ith in the orchestra, as its 
higher notes are equally well and more easily produced on the 
tenor violin, and the effect of the lower strings is much finer on 
the violoncello. 
George Neumarck, of Konigsberg, who lived in the 17th 
century, had presented to him by Simon Dach, a very beautiful 
Viola-da-Gamba, said to have been a masterpiece of the same 
Tielke. 
Neumarck set out for Hamburg with the hopes of finding the 
maker of his grand Viola-da-Gamba, but alas, old Tielke was 
•dead and also his son. His widow and grandchildren he found. 
