Prescott 3/4-size Violoncello: Museum Object and Cultural History
Prescott 3/4-size Violoncello: date made: 1820-1840. maker: Prescott, Abraham. maker: Prescott, Abraham.
The object in the museum catalogue
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.
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: 1820-1840
- maker: Prescott, Abraham
- maker: Prescott, Abraham
- Object Name: cello
- Measurements: overall: 7 3/4 in x 15 13/16 in x 45 3/4 in; 19.685 cm x 40.16375 cm x 116.205 cm
- place made: United States: New Hampshire, Concord
- ID Number: 1992.0005.01
- accession number: 1992.0005
- catalog number: 1992.0005.01
- Credit Line: Gift of Jean and Michael Becker
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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