1695 Ruggieri model cello

I was commissioned by freelance orchestral and West-End cellist Iain Ward. Here’s what we came up with.

Commission for a 1695 Ruggieri model cello for london philharmonic orchestra extra player iain ward

Built for power and projection
Had to be nuanced for both orchestral playing and West-End work
Had to be as close to historically accurate as possible

the research

Studying the original
Noting key features
Wood selection
Recreating the aesthetic
Fine-tuning the build designs to Iain’s requirements as a player

The original 1695 Ruggieri has a historic repair to the bottom. I recreated this on Iain’s cello, reflecting the aesthetic of the original. We did however concede to adding a modern carbon fibre spike at Iain’s request to help projection.

The Build

I love the build phase. The meditative state that you sink into when you get into a rhythm quiets my brain from the hustle and bustle of daily life and puts me into my zen-like place.

Making the moulds
Digging the back out
Setting the cello

As a violinist myself, I’m keenly aware that each player has their own strengths and weaknesses. I try to work with clients to establish exactly what it is they are looking to achieve in an instrument and guide them to the model which will work for them.