A Viola by Hendrick (I) Willems

Hendrick (Henryk) Willems I (c. 1630–c. 1700) was a leading early Flemish luthier from Ghent. He is considered the founder of a significant family of instrument makers in the region. His instruments, likely including viols, established the reputation of the Willems family. His possible grandson, Hendrick II, continued the tradition, working until around 1745 and using a high-quality Amati model with a rich, Venetian-style varnish.