{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O58987"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58987/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH1299/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH1299/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PH1299","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1262","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1261","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1269","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1300","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1257","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1263","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1260","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1259","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1258","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1275","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1274","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1273","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH1272","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EK2518","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PJ3140","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BD3175","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW3298","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O58987/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O58987","accessionNumber":"519&A&B-1872","objectType":"Kit","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Kits were small and narrow variants of violins. They were known as <i>pochettes</i> in France because they could easily be fitted in the coat-pocket of a dancing master, who would play briefly on this instrument, slip it into his pocket and then demonstrate the appropriate steps. Very little music was composed specifically for the kit so the performer generally played violin pieces or popular tunes. \n\nVirtually nothing is known about Dimanche Drouyn, the maker, but he was clearly important enough to supply musical instruments to the household of the Grand Dauphin Louis (1661-1711), the oldest son of  Louis XIV (reigned 1643-1715). This pochette was made of ivory, a costly material, and came in a handsome leather case, stamped with a crowned dolphin, the emblem of the heir to the throne of France. The hair-style of the female head crowning the instrument would have been highly fashionable in about 1670.","physicalDescription":"Narrow model pochette, with five-faced ivory body. Belly with purfling simulated with inlaid silver twisted wire, and with a heart-shaped soundhole and two inwards-facing C-holes with central points. Ivory fingerboard and pegbox, with the finial in the form of a woman's head with plait at back. On the back of the body is written in Indian ink: <i>370 P.R.</i>\n\nWith the instrument is an ivory bow with ebony frog. \n\nThe tubular case, on a body of sheet sycamore (with no internal compartments), is covered with tooled and gilded red leather, decorated with fleur-de-lis, crowned L's and a single crowned dolphin. It fastens with a sprung brass catch.\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Drouyn, Dimanche","id":"A11670"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"},{"text":"sycamore","id":"AAT12357"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"planing","id":"AAT53863"},{"text":"stringing","id":"x37524"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"tooling","id":"AAT256003"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"The instrument of carved ivory and planed sycamore with twisted silver wire, the bow of carved ivory and ebony, the case of tooled and part gilt leather with a brass clasp","categories":[{"text":"Musical instruments","id":"THES48919"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2025PH1299","2025PH1262","2025PH1261","2025PH1269","2025PH1300","2025PH1257","2025PH1263","2025PH1260","2025PH1259","2025PH1258","2025PH1275","2025PH1274","2025PH1273","2025PH1272","2010EK2518","2025PJ3140","2006BD3175","2017JW3298"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"TRANS4","id":"THES250498"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"TRANS4","id":"THES250498"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"TRANS4","id":"THES250498"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Kit","id":""}],[{"text":"bow (chordophone component)","id":""}],[{"text":"Kit case","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1670","earliest":"1665-01-01","latest":"1674-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"37.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Pochette","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Pochette","note":"At pegs (widest part)"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Pochette","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"44.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Case","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Case","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"38","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Bow","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Bow","note":""},{"dimension":"Thickness","value":"0.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Bow","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Dimanche Drouyn/ A Paris","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"French","medium":"ink","method":"inscribed","position":"On label inside the instrument.","script":"Cursive","translation":"Dimanche Drouyn in Paris","transliteration":"","type":"1) Makers's mark 2) Signature","note":"1) Makers's mark 2) Signature; French; Cursive; On label inside the instrument.; inscribed; ink"}],"objectHistory":"Purchase for £1. 10. 0 from Hon. Rev. F. Byng, \nSir M. D. Wyatt Art Referee report , 28343, July 1871 : 'Quite genuine &amp; pretty worth buying at a low price: say £1. 10. 0'\r\nCondition 'Two strings lost'\r\n'Pochette or Sordino, with Bow. The sounding board wood, the neck ivory with carved female head. The bow also ivory. By \"Dimanche Drouyn à Paris\". In stampled and gilt leather case. \nFrench. 17th or early 18th century. \nL. 15 in. L. of bow. 15 in.'\n\nThe tubular, tooled and gilt red leather case is decorated in a manner practised in France during the second half of the seventeenth century. The fleur-de-lis gives no indication of date. The crowned L's are associated with Louis XIII and XIV in the seventeenth century, as well as with earlier and later kings of that name. The crowned dolphin which also appears on it, however, was borne only by the Dauphin; and only the Dauphin of the second half of the century was Louis, le Grand Dauphin (1661-1711), the eldest son of Louis XIV. He is more likely to have had use for a pochette during the earlier part of his life, during the third quarter of the century. The hair-style of the lady on the finial also suggests this date. Thus this pochette must presumably be a French royal piece. It is also interesting to note that the inlaid stringing of spiral silver wire, seen on the belly of the instrument itself, occurs on some French gun-stocks. The wire for this purpose was normally straight before and after this period but, during the third quarter of the seventeenth century, it was often spiralled.\r\n\r\nThe maker, Drouyn, seems to be otherwise unrecorded.\n\nLent to the exhibition<i> Le Grand Dauphin (1661-1711)</i> at the National Museum of the Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France, 14/10/2025 – 15/2/2026.\r\n","historicalContext":"On the history of the kit, see the entry for 'Kit' by Mary Remnant in <i>The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments</i>, edited by Stanley Sadie, (Macmillan, 1984), vol. 2 G to O, pp.437-40\r\n\r\nTerminology note, 2024: The current terminology for “boat-shaped” instruments such as this is 'pochette' rather than the English term 'kit' which is now generally applied only to violin-shaped instruments.","briefDescription":"Pochette or Kit by Dimanche Drouyn. Paris, ca. 1670.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lütgendorff, <i>Die Geigen-und Lautenmacher</i>, Vol. 11."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Peter Thornton, <i>Musical Instruments as Works of Art</i> (H.M.S.O., 1968), figs. 26a and 26b.\n\nFigure 26a\tA dancing-master's fiddle (also known as a kit or <i>pochette</i>, in the second instance because such small instruments could fit into the pocket), made by Dimanche Drouyn in Paris, during the third guarter of the seventeenth century.  No. 519-1872. Drouyn's name is not otherwise recorded but he must have been a maker of some standing, for not only is the workmanship of this instrument of a high quality but the red leather case, stamped with fleurs de lys and crowned L's, bears a crowned\r\ndolphin which must presumably be the crest of the Dauphin of France.\r\n \r\nFigure 26b\tThe tooled decoration and the hairstyle of the woman whose head forms a finial to the instrument (Figure 26c) all point to a date in the thlrd quarter of the century. The only Dauphin at that period was Louis le Grand Dauphin (1661-1711) the eldest son of Louis XIV. Perhaps the young prince was given his early instruction in manners, deportment, and the dance steps to tunes played on this charming little instrument."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Connaissance des Arts, undated article in Departmental Catalogue.\n\nTranslated text:\nThe Victoria and Albert Museum in London will open a new department dedicated to musical instruments. Its curator, Mr Peter Thornton, describes the main French objects of this section unknown to the public.\r\n\r\nLooking into its own treasures, the Victoria and Albert Museum identified, among other precious instruments, a piece of French royal provenance. This is one of the 'poches' that belonged to the Grand Dauphin (fig. 1). Contained in its red morocco case, accompanied by its bow, this witness, from ballet lessons in the century of Louis seems to be a model of exceptional quality, as much for the fineness of execution as for the preciousness of the material used, ivory. An inscription, handwritten according to custom, inside the instrument, gives of the maker: Dimanche Drouyn, in Paris. No discovery (despite the research carried out into makers who worked at the French court, by M. B. Bardet, librarian at the National Library of Paris) has, to date, provided details as to the activity of this Drouyn. At most, we can argue that if Dimanche Drouyn was required to carry out an order for a court figure, it is because he must have enjoyed a certain esteem in his time. Women's fashion makes it possible to specify the date of this instrument: the butt of the \"pocket\" in fact represents a woman's head wearing a hairstyle whose vogue...[missing text]'"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"London, Victoria & Albert Museum, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria & Albert Museum. Part II, Anthony Baines: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), pp. 20 - 21."}],"production":"'The crowned dolphin which also appears on the case was borne only by the Dauphin; and the only Dauphin of the second half od the century was Louis, le Grand Dauphin (1661 - 1711), the eldest son of Louis XIV. He is more likely to have had use for a pochette during the earlier part of his life, during the third quarter of the seventeenth century. The hair-style of the lady on the finial also suggests this date' - Anthony Baines, <i>Non-Keyboard Instruments</i> pp. 20 - 21.","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Kit, bow and case\r\nAbout 1670\r\nFrance (Paris)\r\nBy Dimanche Drouyn","date":{"text":"2015","earliest":"2015-01-01","latest":"2015-12-31"}},{"text":"KIT\r\nBy Dimanche Drouyn, Paris about 1670 \r\nInscribed Dimanche Drouyn/ A Paris\r\nIvory body and fingerboard, with finila in the shape of a woman's head. Gilt red leather case with a crowned \"L\" and dolphin, which signifies Louis, le Grand Dauphin (1661-1711), oldest son of Louis XIV.\r\n\r\nNon-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 4/1 \r\n \r\nThe instrument would presumably have been used at an early stage of the Dauphin's life, and the hair style of the woman on the finial coincides with that date. No other instrument by Dimanche Drouyn has survived. \r\n \r\nThe kit was known in France as the pochette, as the dancing master could slip it into the pocket of his coat, whilst demonstrating a step. Cotgrave's Dictionary of the French and English Tongues (London, 1611) describes it as \"the little narrow, and long violin which French dauncers, or dauncing Maisters, carrie about with them in a case, when they goe to teach their schollers\".\r\n\r\n519-1872","date":{"text":"pre September 2000","earliest":null,"latest":"2000-08-31"}}],"partNumbers":["519-1872","519A-1872","519B-1872"],"accessionNumberNum":"519","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1872,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Kit","bow (chordophone component)","Kit case"],"assets":["2019LN9079","2019LN7939","2019LU6542","2019LT9874","2019LV3510","2019LV3408","2019LW6377","2019LW1601"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-02","recordCreationDate":"2001-05-16","availableToBook":false}}