Viola Mute - Flat Ebony. Sits on the centre of the bridge. Using a mute helps to change the tone colour to a more mellow timbre. Often used in pieces of music with a "con sordino" marking. Wooden mutes tend to have a less muffled, beautifully warm tone compared to rubber mutes. Great for orchestral/solo pieces or historically accurate performances. Reduces sound by around 20%.