Description
A crocodile cello case, the lid with an applied silver coloured metal plaque inscribed 'AUGUSTE VAN BIENE', with a red velvet lined interior 51in (129.5cm) l.
Auguste Van Biene was born on the 16th May 1849 in Rotterdam, he studied cello with Adrien Francois Servais in the Brussels Conservatory and at the age of 15 began playing as a section cellist with the Rotterdam Opera House orchestra. In 1867 he left for London and for about 10 years he made his living by playing in the cello sections of several orchestras, eventually becoming principal cellist in the Costa Orchestra, he eventually formed his own opera company and by the 1880s was chiefly involved in theatrical management and ended up becoming an actor and playwright under the stage name of Henri Tempa. He died on the 23rd January 1931 in the Brighton Hippodrome whilst performing a cello recital.
