I receive many questions about pochettes, so here are a few answers.

What is a pochette?

Pochettes (sometimes called Kits or Kit violins) were used by dancing masters in the 17th-19th centuries principally as a tool to assist them in teaching their pupils. Lessons would have been on a one to one basis and in a private room. The dancing master would first teach his pupil the steps, and then take his pochette from his pocket (hence the name) and play while the pupil danced. The quality of music played by the dancing masters may not have been necessarily very high, but this was not really the intention, in fact they were as much a status symbol as they were a musical instrument. The majority of surviving examples are richly decorated and made of precious materials including ivory, tortoise shell, ebony and many are inlaid with precious stones silver or gold. They were made for the most part in two varieties. One like the instruments pictured here - a boat shape usually with a ribbed back like a lute (although commonly carved from one piece of wood) and two, with a body like that of a violin but very much smaller (these more commonly known as kits)

There are also accounts of them being played by professional musicians to a high standard, but they were principally a tool of the dancing masters.

How big (small!) are they?

Pochettes come in various sizes but most were small enough to be held in a large jacket pocket. The total length of the ones pictured here that I make is 42cm (16.5") and the string length is 24.5cm (9.75").

Are they tuned like a violin?

Pochettes are tuned the same as violins in that the strings are a all fifth apart. However because of the small size the whole instrument is typically a fourth above a violin making it one octave higher than a viola. Some smaller instruments would have been tuned one octave above a violin and some bigger ones the same as a violin.

What do they sound like?

Pochettes were never designed to make a loud noise because of their main use being in a private setting They have a very small sound box and soundboard and do not always have a bass bar or soundpost. You could say that they sound like a violin but much quieter.

How are they held/played?

Pochettes are really too small to be held under the chin - your bow would be far too close to your face if you did. Instead, they were held against your lower ribs and bowed as a violin. Generally you would not need to shift into a higher left hand position because the vast majority of the dance music would not have required it.

What kind of bow did they use?

Bows were basically the same as violin bows of the period and the ones I make are the same length as the instrument, made of ebony and have a simple clip in frog.

Who plays them now?

I have sold pochettes to period dancers, collectors, folk musicians, and people who simply just can't resist their charming appeal!

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My instruments are based on an original now in the Victoria and Albert Museum by Jacques Du Mensil made in 1647. The instruments pictured here have maple bodies with ebony/snakewood fittings.

Prices start from £650

Pochette Plans

I am also often asked about where to obtain plans for pochettes and as a result have produced a set that is available to purchase. The drawing includes all the necessary details to construct a pochette like the ones pictured here and I also include an info sheet with suggestions of wood and strings to use.

Plans cost £35 which includes worldwide postage & packing.
They will arrive rolled in a postage tube..

Order now via paypal
(no paypal account needed, just a crdeit/debit card).