Renaissance

The lira da braccio is the very last form of the mediaeval fiddle or “vièle”.

Although the shape became more flamboyant, the construction and technique remained unchanged from the 11th century. The internal structure also remained constant as “vièles”  and liras are made without sound post or bar.

Painting of a lira da braccio by Bartolomeo Montagna,1500.

Restitution of the lira from Montagna for Nicolas Sansarlat, 2001
and for Evelyne Moser, 2002:

Copy created for Philippe Couvert, 1989.

 

Head, fingerboard and ribs are made out of a single piece of wood.

 

then the ribs are carved and the whole body is hollowed with the saw.

 

The rebec is an instrument of the Renaissance and early baroque period. It was unknown before the 15th Century.