A composite instrument

The kit or pocket violin (French poche or pochette) easily fitted into a man's coat pocket and served as the violin of the dancing-master, whose tutorial role also included deportment. A french ivory kit, acquired in 1872 by the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum) retains its red leather and gilt tooled case, which is flowered with the French fleur-de-lys and bears the 'crowned dolphin' badge of Louis, le Grand Dauphin (1661-1711), the eldest son of King Louis XIV of France (see A. Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum, pt. 11, London, 1988, no. 4/5).