Charles Maucotel, London 1855
Built on a handsome Stradivari model, this cello matches elegance with power in visual and tonal beauty. The select maple of the back, sides and scroll is highly-flamed. The spruce of the top is a fine to medium width, with open grain. The varnish is a rich, dark brownish-red with a light craquelure. The acoustic design of this instrument combines these fine materials with excellent workmanship resulting in a sound quality of great richness, depth, color and responsiveness. In all registers and in all types of passages, this cello speaks with clarity, power and beauty. A very fine example of the Vuillaume school of lutherie, Maucotel has made an instrument with a stage presence ready for the demanding soloist or orchestral performer.