Pochette d'Amore
While most pochettes were small violins, this example is a viola d'amore with five melody strings and four sympathetic strings, which are not played, but ring "in sympathy" with the bowed strings.
Description: Shallow box with sloping shoulders and light yellow varnish. The back and front edged with ebony and ivory inlay. Flaming sound-holes. Long pegbox, with nine pegs, decorated in black and white ivory inlay on either side, and terminating in a blindfolded head. Five melody strings and four sympathetic strings, tuned by the higher pegs.
Artwork Details
- Title: Pochette d'Amore
- Date: 18th century
- Geography: France
- Culture: French
- Medium: wood, ivory
- Dimensions: L. 1 ft. 7 in.
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-bowed-unfretted
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.963
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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