Ken Smith
05-12-2014, 02:44 PM
Having seen 3 other similar or near identical basses brings me to this attribution by Jacquet-Pillement aka Joseph Xavier Jacquet, Mirecourt circa 1840. Fully Restored (w/ chromatic C-extension) by New York Luthier 'Jeff Bollbach', completed in May 2014.
A beautiful early French Gamba shaped bass made originally as a 3-string bass as was the standard at that time in France. Joseph Xavier Jacquet (b.1810, d.1865/7?) was the first maker/Luthier of that family. In 1837 he married Cecile Pillement (grand daughter of Luthier Francois Pillement/Pillement Pere' who died when she was 10). Joseph Xavier Jacquet then used the name Jacquet-Pillement adding his wife's name which became a tradition in his family. Of the 5 children they had, 3 of them became Luthiers that specialized in Double Basses like their father. The eldest was Gabriel Xavier b.1838, then Gabriel b.1848 and finally Joseph b.1850. Gabriel, the 2nd son married Marie J.S. Gand (daughter of the Gand family) in 1878 and was then known as Jacquet-Gand, using his wife's maiden name and NOT associated with the then Gand & Bernadel firm. Then his 3rd son Joseph worked for a time with his brother Gabriel but then married Justine M. Barbezant in 1879 and took over her brothers firm and became known as Jacquet-Barbezant.
String Length; 41 1/2" (105.4cm)
Top/Back Length; 44 1/2" top, 45" back
Upper Bout; 20 3/4"
Middle Bout; 14 3/4"
Lower Bout; 26"
Ribs; 7 3/4"-8" tapering to 6" at neck
A beautiful early French Gamba shaped bass made originally as a 3-string bass as was the standard at that time in France. Joseph Xavier Jacquet (b.1810, d.1865/7?) was the first maker/Luthier of that family. In 1837 he married Cecile Pillement (grand daughter of Luthier Francois Pillement/Pillement Pere' who died when she was 10). Joseph Xavier Jacquet then used the name Jacquet-Pillement adding his wife's name which became a tradition in his family. Of the 5 children they had, 3 of them became Luthiers that specialized in Double Basses like their father. The eldest was Gabriel Xavier b.1838, then Gabriel b.1848 and finally Joseph b.1850. Gabriel, the 2nd son married Marie J.S. Gand (daughter of the Gand family) in 1878 and was then known as Jacquet-Gand, using his wife's maiden name and NOT associated with the then Gand & Bernadel firm. Then his 3rd son Joseph worked for a time with his brother Gabriel but then married Justine M. Barbezant in 1879 and took over her brothers firm and became known as Jacquet-Barbezant.
String Length; 41 1/2" (105.4cm)
Top/Back Length; 44 1/2" top, 45" back
Upper Bout; 20 3/4"
Middle Bout; 14 3/4"
Lower Bout; 26"
Ribs; 7 3/4"-8" tapering to 6" at neck