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Bass viol

ALTERNATE NAME(S)

Violoncello

Date1831-1850 ca.

Place MadeConcord, New Hampshire, United States, North America

Serial No.None

SignedPrinted on paper label: [lettering curved downward at each end} MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. / [image of keyed bugle with one crook, two trombones, open music score, flutina, clarinet, small letters engraved below music score on right side: H. E. BALDWIN. / (illeg.)] / ABRAHAM PRESCOTT / MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IN / MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS / OF EVERY DESCRIPTION / Nearly Opposite the State House, / CONCORD, N. H.

Stamped on treble tuner plate: A.PRESCOTT / CONCORD NH
MarkingsWritten in pencil on inside of bass and treble center ribs: X
DescriptionThis cello was made by Abraham Prescott (1789-1858), one of the most celebrated makers of so-called bass viols (also known in contemporary terms as church basses), used in New England to accompany church vocal music in the 18th and 19th century. It is of violoncello dimensions, while some such instruments are larger than a standard cello. The instrument came into the possession of the University of South Dakota at some point in the 20th century, and was used as a cello by the university until it was discarded in the 1970s. According to donor family history, it was left as trash outside, and salvaged by Usher Abell, USD Professor and historic instrument lover. It was fixed up and given to his grandson, Thomas Abell, who played it for many years until 1999. In turn, his son used it until 2004, when it was finally retired due to needed repairs. As a child, Thomas was embarrassed by the instrument's extensive repairs and ragged appearance, until he looked inside the instrument and saw the label, which inspired him to learn more about its history. Abell and his wife, Margaret Tidd, authored a children's book about the life of the instrument, naming it Milo. This work is available through the NMM's gift shop, where the the instrument is on display.

The small lettering "H. E. BALDWIN" in the decorative engraving on the label is that of Henry Erasmus Baldwin (1815-1857), a printer and engraver based in Newport, New Hampshire. Baldwin served as private secretary to U. S. President Franklin Pierce.

Top: two-piece pine or spruce cut off-the-quarter: wide grain broadening toward the sides; very old but later rectangular patch in top below treble bridge foot; old but later replacement of top portion at lower bass edge
Back: two-piece, quarter cut maple: wide curl ascending slightly from center joint; almost triangular button
Ribs: slab-cut maple: plain; corners chamfered; set into top and back
Head and neck: maple; plain; first turn of scroll deeply scooped scrolls; shoulders decoratively carved with ogee curve
Purfling: inlaid; extra dark brown strip in quarter circle below button, not matching blacks of purfling
Varnish: medium red-brown
Fingerboard: black-painted maple; scooped under neck position; deeply hollowed end
Nut: ebony; later
Tailpiece: black-painted maple; no saddle; two decorative deeply carved lines near keyhole string holes, from side to side
Tailgut: black plastic; later
Pegs: on treble side, one set of original brass worm-gear tuners with brass plate, brass heads, and black-painted maple rollers, the brass plates inlaid into pegbox sides, the upper end terminating in a point with incurved sides; the bass side a later adapted set with similar materials, a rolled decorative pattern around outside edge of plate
Saddle: ebony; set into top; low height; extends 17 mm into top
Endpin: rosewood; brass ferrule, iron screw, and iron extendable endpin; not original but possibly 19th century
F-holes: large notches
Linings: none; ribs set into top and back
Corner blocks: none
Top block: integral with neck; foot at joint with back; chamfered edges
Bottom block: hardwood, possibly maple; convex outer surface
Bassbar: very wide, low height; long - extends fully to upper and lower ribs
Other: elongated diamond-shaped cleats along back center joint, with inset butterfly cleat near bottom and top blocks; two diamond shaped cleats nearest top and bottom block oriented perpendicular to back joint; several cleats under label; cleats mostly oriented parallel to back joint, but some oriented perpendicular
DimensionsTotal violoncello length: 1205 mm
Back length: 750 mm
Upper bout width: 342 mm
Center bout width: 247 mm
Lower bout width: 438 mm
Upper rib height: 110-115 mm
Center rib height: 112-115 mm
Lower rib height: 112-116 mm
Stop length: 401 mm
Vibrating string length: 669 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 265 mm

ProvenancePart of the University of South Dakota Music Department collection until the 1970s, then taken by Usher Abell, USD Professor, after it was discarded by the university. Used as a cello by his grandson, Thomas U. Abell, and great-grandson, Thomas L. Abell, until 2004. See additional information at the link below.

https://www.usd.edu/the-south-dakotan/milo-finds-a-new-home-at-the-national-music-museum
Published ReferencesMargaret Tidd and Thomas L. Abell, Milo Finds a New Home (self-published, 2022)

Credit LineGift of Thomas L. Abell and Thomas U. Abell, 2022

Object number15685

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