Joseph Merlin

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Joseph Merlin worked in Paris around 1750 before moving to London in 1760. There, he received a commission to construct a barrel-organ for the Princess of Wales and collaborated with a goldsmith in New Street, Covent Garden, near John Marshall's workshop. Few conventional musical instruments carried his label, as he was primarily ...Read More focused on designing and manufacturing complex automatons. One rather ordinary London Stainer model violin, labeled and dated 1776, appeared to have been 'improved' with his patented 'non-slip' pegs. More notably, he created a five-string cello, referred to as 'Pentachord' by him, for Sir Edward Walpole. His rare known works exhibited signs of having been crafted by various London artisans of the period, featuring dull brown or red-brown spirit varnish, yet were neatly executed. Merlin's most renowned feat was his demonstration of roller-skates, during which he danced while playing the violin. Unfortunately, the demonstration concluded with him crashing into a large mirror in Carlisle House, Soho Square, resulting in the destruction of both the mirror and his violin. The cello was branded beneath the back button: 'I. Merlin / London'. The printed and amended label read: Josephus Merlin / Cremonae Emulus / No. 106 Londini 1778 / Improved / Queen Ann, No. 66, Street East / Portland Chapel. Read Less

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