A sordino (French, pochette; German, Taschengeige) is illustrated in [Fig. 59]. About 300 years ago the sordino was kept by gentlemen in a case resembling a pen case, which they put in the pocket when they went to a singing party; and they used the instrument for insuring correct intonation while singing madrigals and catches. Kircher, in his “Musurgia Universalis,” Romæ, 1650, calls it linterculus, no doubt from its resemblance to a small boat.
[Fig. 60] represents a bûche (German, Scheitholz) made by Fleurot, of the Val d’Ajol, in the Vosges Mountains, early in the last century.
Fig. 59.—Sordino, or Pochette. Probably German. Late 17th or early 18th century. L. 17½ in. No. 457-’83.
Fig. 60.—Bûche, or Scheitholz. Made by Fleurot, of the Val d’Ajol in the Vosges Mountains. Early 19th century. L. 27½ in. No. 210-’82.
Victoria and Albert Museum.
