This instrument was Invented by Thomas Perry of no. 6 Angelsea road, Dublin in about 1750, although Richard Duke who it is believed influenced Perry or had worked with him at some point has an earlier dated instrument similar to a Quinton and a Perry but with a watch key mechanism, This is a copy I have made of a 1777 Cither Viol by Thomas Perry that I measured up in the museum in Kildare Street in 1978 and then later made a more thourough examination and recorded internal dimensions, I first got interested in this isrtrument in 1978 when I was studying in Northern Renaissance instruments in Manchester, after measuring and drawing an outline of all the parts I set about making a mould which I did not use for 27 years when I finally got started, it took another 6 years to complete the first one,I can make many variations of this a 10 string like this one or an 8 string like a hardinger thats 4 playing and 4 sympathetique or a 6 string version that was in the victoria and Albert museum, or a 5 string violin viola,I am open for any challenges, Want an instrument like this? contact me at pauldoyleinstruments.com and we can design an instrument just for you,