RARE OLD ANTIQUE 18TH FRENCH CENTURY FRENCH CELLO BY NICOLAS CHAPPUY CIRCA 1770.

Description

Ames Anciennes
Fine & rare antique french 7/8 master cello made by Nicolas Chappuy circa 1770
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Fine and extremely rare antique 7/8 french master cello made circa 1770. Nicolas Chappuy is one of the best 18th century french makers. He left us instruments in a wide range of quality, and his violins are met quite often. His cellos, however, are much harder to find. This one is a pure example of Chappuy's work. The top is made of two parts of a very nice spruce and shows regular grain lines. The back is made of two parts of a faintly flamed maple, the curl descending from the center joint. The ribs are of the same wood. The beautiful Lafille head has been grafted on a new neck. Lafille was a french sculptor in Paris at the time, and due to the prohibition for parisian violin makers to make heads, he has provided all the best parisian violin makers with his somptuous heads, always very refined in style, often with a great care in details and adding some particularities such as the Saint-Jacques shell on the lower back of the head. This one is exquisite, very elegant and slender, and shows pegs bushings.
The cello is in a restored condition, with some repaired cracks on the top, and a couple of other cracks on the ribs (nothing to sound post or bass bar). The neck has been reset.
The cello has been entirely revised and set-up, including a boxwood tailpiece with integrated tuners, a new endpin and Jargar new strings set. The Despiau bridge also is new.
On the upper back just under the button of the neck can be found the original fire brand of the maker (N.Chappuy), partially erased. The cello is garanteed authentic. A certificate describing the instrument will be joined to the sale.
The instrument comes with a good cello bag. We can also propose you a BAM case if you like.
Dimensions are :
Body length : 720 mm.
Upper bouts : 342 mm.
Middle bouts : 240 mm.
Lower bouts : 437 mm.
The cello has a deep, extremely mature and warm sound, with some baroque accents, a great projection, and is responsive and easy to play. A fantastic french concert cello that will allow you the most complete repertory !
Fine 18th century french cello by Nicolas Chappuy.