This cello has now been recovered! Rosy Hunt would like to thank everyone who offered support and help following the theft and subsequent period of searching until the recovery of her instrument.
A cello has been stolen from Ms Rosy Hunt, Caulfield, Melbourne on Friday 16 September 2011. See more details at: http://www.missingcello.com
The cello by R & M Millant was accompanied by two bows, one Fetique and one Tourte copy, and was in a shaped blue Laughlin cello case covered by a lot of stickers.
Following is a description of the cello and Fetique bow:
The cello is by R & M Millant and bears its original label dated 1952 in Paris. The number 341 and the initials RMM enclosed by a parallelogram constructed of purfling material are to be found on the lower bout ribs by the end pin.
The back is of two pieces of medium to narrow, regularly flamed maple with the figure descending very slightly from the centre joint; the sides and head are of similar wood; the top plate is of two pieces of slightly wavy grained spruce of medium spaced reed lines at the centre, growing progressively wider towards the flanks; the varnish is of warm, golden brown laid over a light golden ground. The length of the back is 761 mm.
CONDITION
Rib Garland : There is a short (c. 25 mm) shrinkage crack on the lower ‘C’ bout corner; two short cracks (c. 95 mm) on the lower bass bout rib.
Back Plate : There are three cracks, (c. 75 mm, 25 mm and 55 mm) respectively, running downwards from the upper bass side edge and a short crack (c. 40 mm) running upwards from the lower treble edge.
Top Plate : There are cracks on both ƒ hole wings; a sound post crack (c. 170 mm); two short cracks (c. 70 mm each) running upwards from the lower edge of the plate; a short crack (c. 70 mm) running upwards from the lower bass bout edge; two short cracks (c. 80 mm and 55 mm) running downwards from the upper bass bout edge.
It has a bridge stamped Bridgewood & Neizert.
The French cello bow by Victor Fetique is stamped “VTOR FETIQUE A PARIS” on the near side of the handle and “EXPION BRUXELLES” on the far side.
The bow comprises a round pernambuco stick with gold mounted ebony frog which is decorated with a pearl eye surrounded by a gold band; the adjuster of ebony with gold bands on either side of a central section of mother of pearl inlays and capped with a pearl eye.
The second bow was silver mounted with “TOURTE” stamped on the frog or handle.
A little information is available regarding the possible perpetrator:
The person who it is believed to have stolen this instrument was driving a very distinctive vehicle. It was a an old-looking 1990s model white ute, the sort you see at building sites, with an orange light on top of the middle of the drivers cabin. It was noisy! Sped off with a lot of noise. It had a white grill behind the rear window that was cross hatched.
We think the driver, who was in a fluoro jacket, was probably on his way home from a building site in the St Kilda area. He had short brown hair, was of medium build, about 40.
So if anyone sees a vehicle like this, esp in the St Kilda area, take note of the number plate and phone Rosy Hunt (0420 866461) or Crimestoppers. We want a rego!