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Violin tension bar and two labels made by John Devereux
Object No. 2004/96/1
John Devereux is possibly the earliest trained bowed instrument maker known to have been working in Australia. He had a significant reputation and output from the 1850s to 1880s and exhibited his instruments in a number of Inter-Colonial exhibitions in which he won awards. He appears to have been making at an earlier time than Australia's other famed maker of this period, William Dow, also of Melbourne. Born in England in 1810, Devereux arrived in Australia in 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 violins he is known to have made violas, '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 1867-1868, Devereux used the inscription on his labels, "Violin and bass maker to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh". The Argus newspaper of Melbourne described a meeting between Devereux and the Prince at which Devereux presented the Prince with one of his violins. The museum also holds two violins made by John Devereux dating from 1869 and 1871 and a viola dating from 1869. Michael Lea Curator, music & musical instruments March 2004.
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Summary
Object Statement
Violin tension bar and labels (2), wood / paper, John Devereux / maker unknown, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1870-1872
Physical Description
Violin tension bar and labels (2), wood / paper, made by John Devereux, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1870-1872 Violin tension bar looking like a wooden stick, tapered from centre narrowing to ends. The bar is made of [pine] and used inside the body of a violin or viola between the top and bottom block of the instrument to strengthen it. The bar is smoothed all round and slightly flared at one end. The outline of a maker's label is visible on the wood. Rectangular paper violin maker or repairer's label. The top left corner is missing. There are black printed details on the front and glue residue on the back. The label appears to fit the label outline left on the tension bar. Rectangular paper violin repairer's label. Black decorative border printed around edge with black printed details within. Address street number appears to have been cut out with a sharp tool and the number '15' written in front of it in pencil. There is glue residue on the back.
DIMENSIONS
Width
20 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
John Devereux was possibly the first trained bowed string instrument maker working in Australia. He used several innovative features in his instruments including non slipping tuning pegs and the tension bar. This was possibly introduced by Devereux in response to the hot climate and to prevent warping causing the instrument to go out of tune. These innovations were reported by The Argus newspaper in Melbourne on 15/1/1868 in describing an instrument presented by Devereux to Prince Alfred H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh during his visit to Melbourne in 1867-1868. The section specifically mentioning the tension bar reads; "Another invention is the tension bar in the inside running from block to block, thereby strengthening it greatly and preventing it getting out of tune, changes of weather not affecting it in the slightest degree." (p.5).
HISTORY
Notes
The labels are good examples of some of those used by John Devereux during his professional life in Australia.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Barry Buckley, 2004
Acquisition Date
31 May 2004
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