This is a photograph showcasing the interior of one of the world's most exceptional violas, a magnificent 1619 creation by Nicolò Amati. The instrument is on a long-term loan from The Adam Foundation to the New Zealand String Quartet. It is presently being played by Gillian Ansell, a founding member of the quartet, and one of the greatest viola players to emerge from New Zealand.

This viola was already an antique when Johann Sebastian Bach was born. It began as a large 18-inch 'tenor' viola but was resized to a smaller dimension to accommodate the increasing technical demands of early 19th-century music. This intricate resizing process likely took place in Leeds in the early 1800s, a time when there was a high demand for smaller, quality violas. A notable hint to its ancient history is a small crest on the scroll's back, showing it once belonged to the affluent Medici family of Florence. In recent times, the viola was played by David Hume, a member of the London Symphony Orchestra. Hume is not only an expert musician but also a renowned luthier, who has extensively restored the instrument.