Amati > Makers Archive > Abraham Prescott

Abraham Prescott

Highest auction price

£14,810

Auction price history
Type Details Sold Price
Bass 84.2 cm Deerfield, New Hampshire, 1819 'Church Bass' Sat 1st October 2011 £7,128
Bass 84 cm Deerfield, New Hampshire, 1811 'Church Bass' Sat 1st October 2011 £2,376
Cello 81.6 cm Concord, 1830 c. Tue 1st May 2007 £353
Bass New Hampshire, 1830 c. Thu 1st April 2004 £14,810
Bass 1830 Tue 1st October 2002 £11,368
Bass 1840 Wed 1st November 2000 £5,629
Biographies

John Dilworth

PRESCOTT, Abraham Born 1789 Deerfield, died 1858 Concord, New Hampshire USA. Active instrument maker from 1809 whilst working as a farmer. Possibly a pupil of Benjamin Willard 1805-1810. Established from 1820, with several assistants, making American ‘church basses’ and double basses. Moved to Concord, New Hampshire 1831, and sold his interest in bass making to the Dearborn brothers 1845. From then on concentrated on making melodeons and other free-reed instruments. Joined by his son Abraham (II), the business was renamed Prescott & Son. A Baptist Church deacon, he was well-placed to supply his work to churches; they were used to accompany choirs where organs were not available. Almost 600 church basses and 207 double basses are recorded. Originally with three strings, most have been converted to four strings. Rarely purfled and with backs frequently of bird’s eye maple. Soundholes have the ends joined across the wing-tips. Of great historical importance in the early history of instrument making in the USA, his double basses have a fine reputation. The smaller ‘church basses’ are of historical interest. His pupils and employees spread the techniques of bowed instruments making across the eastern states. Abraham Prescott / Deerfield. N.H.

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