We are pleased to offer this fine cello crafted by violin maker Francois Pillement for examination, trial and purchase.
Instrument Type: Cello
Year: Circa 1800
Price: Sold
Maker: Francois Pillement
Dimensions: Back Length: 72.4 cm. Upper Bout: 33.5 cm. Middle Bout: 23.5 cm. Lower Bout: 42.1 cm. String Length: 68.8 cm.
The Cello
Compact proportions and a remarkably powerful voice make this François Jean Pillement cello, dating from circa 1800, especially appealing. Branded internally “F. Pillemont Père à Cremone,” it features a one-piece, slab-cut maple back with medium-wide flame along the flanks, complemented by quarter-cut maple ribs and scroll. The evenly grained spruce top displays attractive hazel markings beneath a warm golden-yellow varnish over a golden ground. With a 68.8 cm string length, the cello is comfortable and easy to play, yet produces a full-bodied sound with excellent projection and an even, balanced tone across all strings and registers.
Dendrochronological analysis by Peter Ratcliff produced a particularly intriguing result, with the cello’s spruce showing significant correlations almost exclusively with Italian instruments of the eighteenth century. The latest measurable rings date to AD 1718 on the bass side and AD 1722 on the treble side. This is highly unusual for an instrument by a French maker and adds another compelling element to the cello’s history. While no documented period of Pillement working in Italy is known, the strong Italian wood correlations remain a striking and noteworthy feature of the instrument.
The Maker
Jean François Pillement, also known as “Pillement Père,” was a French violin maker active in Mirecourt during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in 1758, he crafted violins, cellos, and double basses, with his cellos often regarded among his finest work. His instruments show the influence of the Gavinies school, followed by Amati and Stradivari models. Although some were branded or labeled with references to Paris or Cremona, Pillement’s instruments were made in Mirecourt.