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Cello by Barak Norman, London – 1719

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 It is my understanding that this cello was originally made as a piccolo cello in order to provide an easier transition for a viol player and that it would have been played in a standing position with the instrument on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.

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A Cello made by Luke Mercier – 2015

This cello was loosely modeled after the 1693 Matteo Goffriller but was reduced proportionally to have a 29 1/2″ body length. I recall the original being closer to 31″ or more. It has a very big sound with a depth and warmth that carries right up through the higher register. It was made from Curly Maple for the back and sides and European Spruce for the top.

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A late 19th-century German workshop violin labelled David Techler

A very well made workshop instrument from high quality materials. It has an ebony crown on the button and two large ebony locating pins below it.

There is also a false neck graft, intentional antiquing to the finish, darkening of the interior and a full arching, especially in the top which was done to imitate the naturally occurring arching distortion of older instruments. It appears to be a deliberate German workshop effort to emulate an old David Techler violin out of homage.

The condition is excellent

Price: $6,500

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An English violin made for the London trade ca 1785 (Longman & Broderip)

This violin was made very quickly for the London trade for the firm of Longman & Broderip. There is a trace of their brand on the back below the button and the original label inside which reads ‘Made & Sold by Longman & Broderip No. 26 Cheapside & No. 13 Hay Market, LONDON.

This violin originally had inked on purfling which has almost completely worn off. It has some old wounds including a few repaired belly cracks on the treble wing of the belly and at the lower treble f-hole wing. On the back, there are a couple of repaired cracks to the lower bass-side wing and an acceptable amount of wood-worm damage.

There is also some old wood-worm damage to the lower bass-side rib.

The neck setting has been modified at some point but is still not set into the top block. The continuous upper rib has been cut through and refilled for the thickness of the rib. There is a single iron nail through the top block to hold the neck as was common.

The English boxwood pegs are of the period as is the endpin. It has a very deep and extremely warm tone and is strung with Pirastro Passione strings.

Price: $5,000

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