WG Luk Silky Oak Sydney 2022 Viola 16.5" 013

This viola was made by Wei Luk in 2025, in Sydney, Australia. Born in China, Wei Luk developed an early interest in woodworking before becoming involved with music and the violin. Without formal training in violin making, he began repairing bows and damaged instruments at the request of his violin teachers. In 1974, Luk was asked to make a cello for the daughter of a young cello soloist. As payment, her father taught Luk architecture, while friends at the Guangzhou Happiness Stringed Instrument Factory assisted him with the construction. Luk migrated to Australia in 1990 and established himself in Sydney as a maker, repairer and restorer. He makes violins, violas and cellos, bringing a distinctive background in carpentry and instrument repair to his approach to violin making. This Viola is labelled "W. G. Luk / Professional String Instruments / DESIGNED AND HANDMADE IN AUSTRALIA / 16 1/2" viola" and is signed and bears the number 013-2022. The body measures 418mm along the back, 195mm across the upper bouts, and 249mm across the lower bouts. The back is in one-piece of birdseye silky oak, a native Australian tone-wood, and the ribs and scroll have been made to match. The top is of an evenly grained figured bear-claw spruce and it is finished with a golden-brown varnish and ebony fittings.