NMM 5300. Violoncello attributed to Brescia, ca. 1700-1750 Gift of Alice Louise Healy, Sloan, Iowa, 1992 Click on any structural feature above to see an enlargement of that feature Labelled: Ioseph de Boncis Fe[cit] / Anno 170[6?]. Pa [indecipherable]. Original top, back, ribs, blocks, and pegbox. This cello was purchased in 1935 by the donor's mother, Nina Loomis, from The Rosenthal Violin Co., Inc., 152 West 57th Street (adjoining Carnegie Hall), New York City. The original sales agreement called for the trade-in of "one new German large sized cello as part payment," plus $125 in cash. According to the donor, a former owner of this cello toured with Al Jolson. Additionally, the cello is said to have survived a car wreck—a distinct possibility, judging from the fact that the instrument has been heavily repaired. Alice Louise Loomis Healy (b. Nebraska, May 3, 1914-d. Sloan, Iowa, September 14, 1996), the daughter of physician/surgeon, Milo M. Loomis, was a 1931 graduate of the Manilla, Iowa, High School, and a 1935 graduate of Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa). She played cello in the Sioux City Community Symphony, under the direction of Leo Kucinski, from 1931-1937. Alice married in 1941 and moved to Lohrville, Iowa, where she taught English in nearby Churdan. From 1975-1987, she played this cello in the Ft. Dodge (Iowa) Area Symphony, during which time the photograph at the left was taken (1987). Front, Back, and Bass Side of Body Click on any image below to see an enlargement Top: three-piece spruce. Ribs: maple; one-piece bottom rib. Back: one-piece plain maple, slab cut. Soundholes Click on image below to see an enlargement Pegbox and Scroll Views Click on any image below to see an enlargement Neck Heel Click on any image below to see an enlargement Measurements Body length:  697 mm (front); 695 mm (back) Width, upper bouts:  412 mm (front); 411 mm (back) Width, center bouts:  224 mm( front); 217 mm (back) Width, lower bouts:  322 mm (front); 322 mm (back) Rib width, upper bouts:  114-115 mm Rib width, center bouts:  113 mm Rib width, lower bouts:  112-117 mm Neck length: 263 mm Go to Checklist of Bowed Stringed Instruments Made in Brescia Go to Checklist of Bowed Stringed Instruments Made Before 1800 National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2008 Most recent update: May 14, 2008 You are the 3,494th visitor to this page since May 14, 2008. The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page