Cello by Lawrence Cocker, Derby, 1967
This cello has now sold.
About Lawrence Cocker
Lawrence Cocker is perhaps best remembered for his split cane bows: these innovative bows consisted of a pernambuco head grafted onto a cheaper bamboo or cocobolo stick and were popular in the days before carbon fibre. His innovative nature also led him to work closely with Lionel Tertis on the famous Tertis model violas.
These interesting experiments aside, Cocker was also a very fine maker of `straight´ instruments. He was self taught and worked with a variety of Classical models.
About the cello
The cello was made in Derby in 1967 and is based on a personal model.
The front is two pieces of straight-grained spruce with some bear-claw figuration. The back is two pieces of book-matched, narrow-flamed maple and the ribs are of similar wood. The scroll is maple with a more gentle flame. The varnish is a rich red colour.
The cello has a length of back of 755 mm or 29 and 3/4 inches.
How does it sound?
This is a big, resonant cello with a lovely dark sound. It´s a very human instrument with a singing upper register and a great deal of character.
Condition
The cello is in excellent condition. It bears its original label and is further inscribed on the inside with the date of 1966: it´s likely that Cocker didn´t label it until the cello was sold, a habit that comes directly from Stradivari!