Historic and antique English cello, 19th century

An unknown English luthier created this fascinating historic cello around 1850. Its reddish-brown varnish has darkened dramatically over time, and in the lower parts of the top and back it has almost turned black. A rich patina and vivid traces of use clearly indicate that this is an instrument with a long history of being played frequently and with great gusto, which is due in part to its relatively light weight and good transportability. One interesting detail is the old peg hole bushings on the peg box where there were once tuning screws like those commonly used on upright basses. The scroll features very lovely and well-executed carving, while the purfling is drawn on – a detail that was a concession to the instrument's outstanding playing and acoustic qualities, properties which continue to make this cello a convincing choice. Our luthier received the instrument in crack-free and intact condition, and after having thoroughly set it up, it is ready to play. Its sophisticated, mature sound is bright, nuanced, resonant and solistic - a voice that meets the demands of professional musicians. We recommend to contact us for an appointment to play this cello at our studio in Munich, Germany, and to compare it to other individually selected instruments from our catalog.