Viola made by John Devereux
Object No. 2003/36/1
John Devereux is one of the earliest violin makers known to have been working in Australia. He had a significant reputation and output from the 1860s to 1880s and was a contemporary of Australia's other great maker of this period William Dow, also of Melbourne. Born in England in 1810, it is thought that Devereux arrived in Australia in about 1854 from London where he had been working in the workshop of violin maker Bernhard Simon Fendt (1800-1852). He settled in Melbourne and operated a violin making business there until his death in 1883. Apart from violas he is known to have made violins, 'cellos and double basses. He was apparently an accomplished double bass player and performed regularly at Government House in Melbourne. After a visit to Australia by HRH Prince Alfred, The Duke of Edinburgh in 1867, Devereux used the inscription on his labels, "Violin and bass maker to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh". This was apparently after Devereux had met the Prince who was an accomplished violinist. The museum also holds two violins made by John Devereux dating from 1869 and 1871. Michael Lea Curator, music & musical instruments January 2003.
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Summary
Object Statement
Viola with case, chin rest and cloth, spruce / maple / ebony / metal / synthetic / vinyl / nylon / fabric, made by John Devereux, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1869
Physical Description
Viola, case and accessories, spruce / maple / fabric, viola made by John Devereux, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1869. Large bodied timber and maple viola. The viola features a spruce table and maple back, ribs, neck and scroll. The back of the viola consists of two pieces of timber with grain sloping downward from central join to outer edges. The sloping grain also features on the ribs. The viola has an ebony fingerboard and light coloured timber tuning pegs. These are tapered to metal tips and with screw running through peg. This appears to be a kind of string locking device to assist staying in tune. The instrument has an internal strut running between the upper and lower blocks, an original feature apparently used by the maker and often removed by subsequent repairers. Accompanying the viola is a viola case, polishing cloth and piece of fabric, used as a cover for the viola.
DIMENSIONS
Width
240 mm
Depth
100 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The viola was made by John Devereux, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1869.
HISTORY
Notes
The viola was purchased and used by Martin Pierard while playing for the State Orchestra of Victoria, Australia.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased with the assistance of Mr Robert Albert, AO, 2003
Acquisition Date
10 March 2003
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