Kit
1700 - 1760 (Made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Kits were small, narrow versions of violins, often played by dancing masters before demonstrating a particular step. One recorded virtuoso of this instrument was Francis Pemberton who flourished in England in the 1760s and was "able to play solos on [the kit], exhibiting all the graces and elegancies of the violin". This example was probably made in England in the 18th century but its body is shaped like a viol, an instrument which became increasingly obsolete after about 1750.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Materials and techniques | planed and carved sycamore body; planed and purfled (bordered) pine belly; planed ebony tailpiece and fingerboard. |
| Brief description | Kit or pochette (miniature violin), sycamore body and pine soundboard, English, 1700 - 1800 |
| Physical description | 'Viol-shaped body with arched back, of sycamore. Pine belly with a single line of purfling. A well-carved scroll with wide spirals, and boxwood pegs. Ebony tailpiece and fingerboard' - Anthony Baines:Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments(London, 1998), pp. 22-23. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mr. F.L. Lucas |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Frederick Louis Lucas. See Nominal File MA/1/L2213. Mr Lucas left to the Museum the choice of items from his house and one fifth of his residual estate. |
| Summary | Kits were small, narrow versions of violins, often played by dancing masters before demonstrating a particular step. One recorded virtuoso of this instrument was Francis Pemberton who flourished in England in the 1760s and was "able to play solos on [the kit], exhibiting all the graces and elegancies of the violin". This example was probably made in England in the 18th century but its body is shaped like a viol, an instrument which became increasingly obsolete after about 1750. |
| Bibliographic reference | Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), pp. 22-23. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.6-1931 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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