Donated by Douglas Spence in 2013, after extensive restoration to its original condition by John Dilworth, with an endowment to purchase an early classical bow by Pieter Affourtit. This unique instrument features the most intricate marquetry back, and carries the maker’s label inside.

The donor told us that he picked it up in a junk shop in his native Northumberland for a few pounds in the 1980s and played it himself for many years.