Jewitt Violoncello (folk)
Jewitt Violoncello (folk)
- Description
-
This violoncello was made by made by George Jewett in Lebanon, Maine, between 1794-1795. It is a folk cello made of a two-piece table of slab-cut white pine, two-piece back of similar pine with paper glued along the center joint, ribs of laminated paper inlaid into the table and back; plain maple neck, pegbox and carved painted female head, and a forged 3-prong iron end-pin. This instrument has a carved inscription on the tailpiece:
-
J Jewett
Fecit -
(and an additional carved inscription within the “heart”
- ornament of the tailpiece):
-
PAMELE
1794 -
(and a further ink inscription on the tailpiece back):
-
George Jewett
AD
1795 -
An example of 18th-century folk craft, this cello was a labor of love. It was constructed of local materials and bears a charming naive carved and painted female head. The belly and back are made from white pine, the ribs are of laminated paper. The charming carved and painted head replaces the more usual scroll.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- cello
- date made
- 1794-1795
- maker
- Jewett, George
- place made
- United States: Maine, Lebanon
- Physical Description
- pine (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 48 1/2 in x 17 7/8 in x 10 1/2 in; 123.19 cm x 45.4025 cm x 26.67 cm
- ID Number
- MI.255329
- catalog number
- 255329
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Cellos
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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