Hendrick (I) WILLEMS

A maker in Ghent, Belgium, about 1650-1700. An alto of large pattern has remarkably fine wood used for the belly; the corners are prominent and squared at the ends; the sound-holes, rather straight and stiff, are similar to the Brescian model, or those in a Stainer instrument; the neck ends in a lion's head ; the outline and the beautiful finish could almost be mistaken for Italian work, but the varnish is too dry. It is labelled: " Hendrick Willems tot Ghendt, 1651." For a bass-viol made for use in Saint Bavon's Cathedral (Ghent) he was paid, on March 28, 1670, a sum of £5 (Flanders). A small pocket violin, with a pentagonal back, with the neck ending in a lion's head, was signed: " Hendrick Willems tot Ghendt, 1679 ' In 1698 he is mentioned as the repairer of the bass used in the rood-loft of St. Bavon. Nearly all his instruments have beautiful wood for the belly, but walnut, lime-tree, or plane-tree wood is frequently used for the back and the sides, especially in the case of the basses.