Bassot's Boston Brother

[Barbara Currier]

Well, well, there's another Bassot, Remy born in 1792. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has revised their assessment of their Bassot hg's age and builder, instead of Joseph Bassot who died in 1811. That would make a lot of people who have seen mine very happy. They now say early 19th century.  I would like to compare handwriting on the signature under the peghead. Mine does not  have so many identifying marks, but it does have the signature and rather distinctive face. Mine was "de-acquired" from that establishment.

http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/hurdy-gurdy-50272

They have audio files. Sounds like my Bassot.

Still inconclusive, however. The French museum still has theirs pegged the end of the 18th century by Joseph Bassot, and that's my little guy's profile and crank and handle.

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/joconde/0375/m006093_05097_p.jpg

There was a better picture at the Italian museum's site.
http://www.comune.milano.it/dseserver/webcity/documenti.nsf/0/5A4CA30F4FDC7CA8C125726C005484BE?opendocument

Yep, love to see the signature.

B

[Barbara Currier]

Now, I've seen the Boston signature. Thank you, Matthew. It is not the same as the one on mine, not even close, so perhaps Remy didn't make mine. Perhaps my Bassot is Boston B.'s uncle instead of brother. I wonder if Grandpa Joseph carved a *lot* of heads that son Joseph and grandson Remy were still using.... The mystery continues.

I hope all you builders are putting sufficient identification, including years, in your instruments to save idle speculation in future generations. Or don't and encourage it, it's kind of fun. :^)

Barbara