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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 JewettFecit; (and an additional carved inscription within the “heart”; ornament of the tailpiece):; PAMELE1794; (and a further ink inscription on the tailpiece back):; George JewettAD1795; 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

Giovanni Gagliano Violoncello

Description: This violoncello was made by Giovanni (Joannes) Gagliano in Naples, Italy, in 1800.
Location: Currently not on view

Thompson Violoncello (1/4 size)

Description: This violoncello was made by Charles and Samuel Thompson in London, about 1780. It is a ¼ size violoncello, made of a table of pine slab cut on the bass side, joined to quarter-cut pine on the treble. The interior has square linings and ribs finished with a toothed plane. The lower bout ribs are joined at the bottom block with notches at the top and bottom of the joint for centering of the model . There is an original printed label inside the instrument:; CHA: & SAM THOMPSON,in St. Paul’s Church YardL O N D O N; The brothers Charles and Samuel Thompson were the successors of their father, Robert, who worked in St. Paul’s Church Yard around 1740-1769. The brothers continued the business (ca. 1770-1790), making and selling instruments of commercial quality made from common wood, with painted ink purfling and dark reddish-brown opaque varnish.
Location: Currently not on view

John Preston Violoncello

Description: This violoncello was made by John Preston in London, about 1780. It is made of a two-piece table of spruce, two piece back of maple with even fine descending figure, ribs of similar maple, neck, pegbox and scroll of late replacement, and varnish of transparent brown color. There is a printed label inside the instrument:; Preston MAKERNo 97 StrandL O N D O N; John Preston began working in London around 1744 in Long Acre as a maker of violins and guitars. After 1776 he was established at the Strand, where he remained until his death in January of 1798. In 1789, his son Thomas entered the business and developed the firm as music publishers as well as violin makers and dealers. Preston and Son published music of many types including dance, operetta and popular song. In 1834 the firm passed to control of Coventry & Hollier and continue today under the name Novello & Company. It was probably the publishing interest that prevented John Preston from developing a strong reputation and output as a maker. His instruments might be considered today as good to fair in commercial quality. In this example with typically pointed arching and high ribs,1 the neck, pegbox and scroll are a later Bohemian or German replacement. The body bears an even single purfling.
Location: Currently not on view

Prescott 3/4-size Violoncello

Description: This 3/4-size Violoncello was made by Abraham Prescott in Concord, New Hampshire, around 1820-1840.; Abraham Prescott (1789-1858) was one of the most prolific of the bass viol makers. A self-taught instrument maker, he began his craft in Deerfield, New Hampshire, in 1809 and moved his business to Concord in 1831, where he continued to make violoncellos, bass viols, and double basses (and later reed organs and pianos) until about 1850. Prescott instruments are often fitted with machine-head tuning gears instead of more usual pegs.
Location: Currently not on view

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