cello
Johannes Theodorus Cuypers
built in The Hague in 1786
A classical cello, built by Johannes Theodorus Cuypers in The Hague in 1786. This cello is in excellent condition and still has its original neck. A unique instrument, part of the Dutch cultural heritage.
History of this instrument
The Musical Instrument Fund acquired this cello in 2019 through a Dutch dealer. The cello came from a private collection and was played by three generations of the same family. The first owner in the family was a doctor and an amateur cellist. He acquired the cello as payment (and a token of gratitude) for medical care he provided to a patient. The last member of the family to play the cello was his granddaughter.
Experts consider this cello to be one of the most authentic Old Dutch string instruments from the 18th century. The cello is in exceptionally good condition. Most of the original varnish has been preserved, and the neck is also still the original one made by Cuypers. This makes the cello ideally suited for performing classical and early Romantic repertoire in a historically informed manner. Currently, Diederik van Dijk is the lucky player.
About the builder Johannes Theodorus Cuypers
The Netherlands experienced two periods of prosperity in violin making. The first was in Amsterdam from 1650 to 1728; the second took place largely in The Hague, from 1760 to 1840. This peak was primarily due to the Cuypers family, led...
