A very interesting historical work. It is my understanding that this cello was originally made as a piccolo cello in order to provide an easier transition for a viol player and that it would have been played in a standing position with the instrument on a stool.
It wasn’t too long afterwards that the full size cello dimensions were becoming standardized and the piccolo cello would fall out of popularity in favor of the larger instrument, played from a seated position. These small instruments would eventually be interpreted as being child-sized.
This one was enlarged and modernized by Robert Barnes, presumably of Norris and Barnes in 1792, Coventry St. London, which would have been after their joint business was dissolved.
I new this instrument in a state of many, many, dusty splinters in boxes for about 25 years and took it on as a pet project during the Covid 19 Pandemic Lockdowns. It is fair to say that I have a thing for broken birds and taking on challenging puzzle projects. This project was indeed, a labour of love for certain, and best of all, ye olde Norman gets his voice returned to sing another Aria. It is a great sounding Bach cello.
Luke Mercier Violins 