Moses Tewksbury, 1844

Moses Tewksbury (1787-1845) was a notable figure in the 19th century New England school of instrument making. Active in Chester, NH during the 1830s and 1840s, he developed his trade as an employee of Abraham Prescott, who had a clear impact on Tewkesbury's style and approach to constructing double basses. Around 1835, he left the Prescott shop in Concord, NH and opened his own business in nearby Chester, NH where he continued building 'church basses' and large double basses in the Prescott tradition.
 
This particular instrument was crafted in 1844 and bears its original label which reads MOSES A. TEWKESBURY, MANUFACTURER AND REPAIRER OF BASS & DOUBLE BASS VIOLS & VIOLINS, CHESTER, NH, Manufactured 1844. It is a gamba model of large proportions, that features a pine top paired with an American sugar maple flatback, sugar maple ribs, and a maple neck/scroll. It carries ebony fittings, a maple adjustable bridge, and a low B-extension. Of note is the original neck and scroll, which have been preserved, in addition to the original inlaid brass plates with later tuning machines mounted to them. A remarkable New England School instrument in remarkably original condition!