Hurdy-gurdy, sycamore ribs and belly, Gilbert or Jean-Baptiste Pajot, French (Auvergne), 1835.

"Lute shaped body of nine ribs of sycamore alternately stained. The pegbox, an extension of the keybox, has six pegs and a crudely carved head. The instrument is crudely decorated with floral inlay and painted design. Normal French provincial instrument, of rather large dimensions." - Anthony Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), p. 27

This instrument was part of the collections of Carl Engel (1818-1882) and bought by the Museum in 1882 for £3.

The label inside this hurdy-gurdy reads ' ... Pajot Père et Fils ['Père et' is crossed out] / Facteur d' instruments ... 1835 [or 1855] and refers to a 'mention honorable'. Jean Pajot, the father, was the first known member of this hurdy-gurdy-making family. He made his first instruments at Jenzat in 1795 and died in 1847. His son Gilbert carried on the business until his death in 1853, when he was succeeded by his son, Jean-Baptiste (1817-1863). The hand-written date on the label could either be 1835 or 1855, and the mention honorable may possibly refer to the Exposition Universelle of Paris (1855). The earlier date would make Gilbert the maker and later one his son, Jean-Baptiste.

The hurdy-gurdy has long been associated with pastoral music The melody would be played on keys, and a rotating wheel provided a background drone, by rubbing the strings like a violin bow. This example is decorated in a somewhat rustic manner, which may have been thought particularly suitable for this type of instrument. It was made by one of the Pajots, either Gilbert (d. 1853) or his son, Jean-Baptiste (1817-1863). This family produced the most sought-after hurdy-gurdies in France during the 19th century and was based in Jenzat, in the Auvergne.

267-1882