Cello made in Markneukirchen, circa 1880
This cello has now sold.
About Saxon instruments
This cello was made in Markneukirchen, a small town in the Saxony region of Germany famous for its great number of string instrument making workshops. There were two other important violin making towns nearby, resulting in significant crossover of workers and methods across the three towns.
The town remains active as a centre of violin making today, with over 100 different instrument workshops and a charming museum dedicated to its extraordinary history.
About the cello
The cello was made in Markneukirchen around 1880. It is a workshop instrument, meaning that a number of highly-skilled luthiers worked to make it as a team. Each luthier would have had a different role within the workshop, from roughing out the belly to the varnishing of the finished instrument. This method allowed workshops to produce a large number of instruments and yet remain on top of quality control.
The cello is modelled after the instruments of Stradivari and has a length of back of 760 mm or 29 and 7/8 inches.
The cello has a two piece back of delicately-flamed maple. The ribs are of similar wood and the head is more plain. The two piece front is of medium-grained spruce which widens towards the flanks. The varnish is golden-brown in colour, laid over a lighter ground.
How does it sound?
This is a lovely, mellow instrument which speaks well. It is resonant and projects well but retains a softness to the sound. The cello has a particularly rich C string and the articulation is crisp and responsive across the range. A great all-rounder, the cello is easy to play and would make an excellent partner for both solo and orchestral repertoire.
Condition
The cello is in very good restored condition.