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Another one of those desirable Mirecourt instruments
shaped like a large violin with a swell-back and characterised by
one of those secondary buttons on its upper back. On first glances
it is. But what about a second glance? Just take a look at the heavily
flamed two piece back with matching wood in the ribs and scroll,
then take a look at that stunning deep-red oil varnish with that
ever so fine craquel to it's surface texture. It's definitely some
of the most exquisite stuff that one will ever have the pleasure
to feast one's eyes upon. Yes, this instrument is something very
special indeed. Peering through the bass side"f"
hole of this instrument will reveal the most perfect of handwriting
imaginable. There, inscribed in pencil on the back is the name
and date 'Riviere & Hawkes, November 1886.' A Hawkes
I hear you cry. But that doesn't look like the big Hawkes Professor,
Concert and Panormo instruments that I know. Yes, that's right,
it doesn't. And that's because this one is the French version of
the instruments that we commonly associate with the name Hawkes
& Sons. Hawkes & Sons imported instruments from both Germany
and France. Today however one seldom sees the French version. These
were made to exacting standards by some of the best Mirecourt makers
of the day.
Can you tell me who exactly made them? Well, up
until we took the table off from this instrument there was, to
my knowledge, no information as to who made them or supplied them
to Hawkes, especially regarding an instrument made in the earliest
of days of the Hawkes company. On the inside table of this
instrument, located on the lower treble side can be found the pencil
inscription 'Jacquet - Barbezant, Mirecourt, Vosger 1886'.
What does this mean? Well the Encyclopaedia of Violin Makers
by Karel Jalovec reveals that Fréderic Barbezant (b. Mirecourt
1834 d. 1906) owned a business that supplied the home industry
of Mirecourt. Under the six surnames listed by Jalovec entitled
Jacquet, a Joseph Jacquet (b. Mirecourt 1850 d. 1900) is of interest.
Joseph was in fact the third son of Joseph Xavier Jacquet the renowned
double bass maker. Jalovec continues; 'After a long association
with his brother Gabriel he took over the workshop of his brother-in-law
Fréderic Barbezant, where, however, he organised only the
mass-production of instrument parts'. From Jalovec's valuable information
and the indisputable evidence inscribed on the table of this instrument
it would be safe to say that the Jaquet- Barbezant association
were suppliers of instruments to Hawkes and indeed this was obviously
quite a family affair. It is also quite possible that both Jacquet
and Barbesant contributed to some of the actual instrument production,
although based on the quality of this particular instrument, it
is more than likely that the production of this high class instrument
was commissioned from one of the better Mirecourt makers of the
day. Who else do we know was making in Mirecourt at that time?
Well Justin Derazey's name does spring to mind for we know that
he did make a considerable number of double basses, based on this
model, of this quality of construction and with an oil varnish
similar to this in terms of colour, quality and texture. For now
and until we learn more this would be The Contrabass Shoppe's attribution
if one had to be made.
Wonderful as all this research is. What about the
instrument itself? Well as you know, quality of construction usually
results in a certain quality of sound and as far as this instrument
is concerned both are not far from perfection. This is quality
stuff indeed. With regard restoration, there's a new neck that
complements the instrument perfectly while the conversion from
the original three strings has been effected with a stunning set
of English style cogs. Internally all cracks have been immaculately
studded and there's even a new bass bar.
Should you doubt that the restoration work has not
been done without compromise then a photograph of the table restoration
accompanies this instrument, as do photographs of the historically
important internal table inscription.
Width at the upper bout 20.9in (53.0cm)
Width at the centre bout 15.1in (38.3cm)
Width at the lower bout 26.6in (67.6cm)
LOB 44.4in (112.7cm) St length 41.5in (105.3cm)
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