Violins and Violin Makers Part 2

BROWN, JAMES, son of do., born 1786, died 1860. Both good workmen, but without any speciality.

BUCHSTADTER, --- Ratisbon, 18th Century. Used the flat model. Otto says the wood is not good, and therefore, though well built, the tone is not fine; but Spohr puts his violins on his list as excellent instruments. He may, therefore, be ranked among the good German makers.

BUDIANI, JAVIETTA, Brescia, about 1580. Made after the style of Gaspar di Salo.

C.

CAESTA, PIETRO ANTONIO DELLA, Trevisa, 18th Century, imitated Stradiuarius.

CAMILE, CAMILUS de, Mantua, esteemed as a pupil of Stradiuarius.

CAPPA, GIACHIMO or GIOFREDA or probably two Brothers, born at Cremona and worked under Amati. Date there about 1590 and were in Piedmont 1640. There are some good Violoncellos of this make.

CAPPA, GUISEPPE--Saluzzo--end of 16th Century.

CAPPER, --- or probably Cappa, Mantua. A Violin of this make was sold by auction in London in 1861, and said to be very good.

CARTER, JOHN, London, 1789, made some excellent instruments which were sold both under his own name and under that of John Betts for whom he had worked.

CARLO, GUISEPPE, Milan 1769.

Ca.s.sINO, ANTONIO, Modena, 17th Century.

CASTAGNERY, JEAN PAUL, Paris 1639 to 1662. This artist is considered to be one of the best of the old French Makers. One authority says they have a fine silvery tone but not powerful.

CASTAGNERI, ANDREA, Paris. 18th Century.

CHANOT, --- Mirecourt, France, a good maker, 18th Century.

CHANOT, --- London.

CHAPPUIS, (or Chappuy,) AUGUSTINE, about 1710.

CHARLES, THERESS, London.

CHEROTTE, --- Mirecourt, 18th Century.

CHEVRIER, --- Paris, 18th Century.

CHRISTA, JOSEPH PAUL, Munich, 1730.

CHRISTOPHORI, BARTOLOMEO, Florence, 18th Century.

CIRCAPA, THOMASO. Naples, 1730.

CLARK, --- London.

COLE, THOMAS, London. Forster says no instrument has been preserved of this maker, but that is a mistake. There is in the neighborhood of Sheffield, a very large Tenor with a fine deep tone and the following curious label.

Made 1690, by THOMAS COLE of London, on Holborn Hill, who selleth all sorts of Musical Instruments.

COLLINGWOOD, JOSEPH, London, 18th Century.

CORSBY, GEORGE, believed to be formerly a maker at Northampton, and now and for a long time a dealer in Violins, &c., in Princes' Street, Soho, London.

CONWAY, WILLIAM, 1745.

COLLIER, SAMUEL, 1755.

CRASK, GEORGE, of various places, has made many Violins in imitation of the Cremona Makers, some of which have been sold by unscrupulous dealers as genuine instruments, an example of which we have seen which was purchased by a professional man, since dead, of a Violinist then on a Musical Tour. It is only right here to say that we believe Mr. Crask to be entirely free from blame in this matter, as he sells these instruments as his own productions.

CROWTHER, JOHN, 1755 to 1810.

CROSS, NATHANIEL, London, about 1720. He was partner at one time with Barak Norman and used his monogram sometimes. He also stamped a Cross in the inside of his instruments as well as used it in his labels. He made some good Violins, which resemble those of Steiner. His mark in the inside of the back is here given.

+ N. C.

A violin of this make which we have seen, has the great fault of having the ba.s.s bar cut out of the solid, instead of being glued in, thus contravening the established principles of the art.

CONTRERAS, JOSEPH, Madrid, 1746. An excellent maker, who was particularly celebrated for his copies of Stradiuarius.

D.

DARDELLI, PIETRO, Mantua, about 1500. Made good rebecs, violas and viols da gamba. Fetis mentions some of them as still existing.

DECOMBRE, AMBROISE, Tournay, 1700 to 1735, was said to be one of the pupils of Stradiuarius and made some good instruments of his pattern.

DESPONS, ANTOINE, Paris,--one of the good French Makers, about 1725.

d.i.c.kENSON, EDWARD, 1754.

d.i.c.kSON, JOHN, Cambridge, 1779.

DIEHL, NICHOLAUS, Darmstadt, 17th Century.

DITTON, ---- London, about 1720.

DODD, THOMAS, Son of Edward Dodd of Sheffield, and who died in London in 1810, at the great age of 105 years (see Bow Makers). Thomas Dodd's instruments have had considerable reputation, but it is believed he was not a maker himself, but employed Bernard Fendt and John Lott, through whose excellent workmans.h.i.+p his name, which he put on the labels, became well known.

DODD, THOMAS. Son of the above; he was drowned in 1843.

DOMINISCELLI--Ferrara, 18th Century. A good workman.

DUKE, RICHARD, London, 1767 to 1777. This Artist was very celebrated in his day and his instruments commanded very good prices. He frequently stamped his name on the back, but as far as we have seen, only on inferior productions. Very good instruments may now occasionally be met with at low prices in consequence of the great prejudice in favour of the Italian and other foreign makers.

DURFEL, ---- Altenburg, made good double Ba.s.ses. His violins are also said by one authority to be excellent in point of tone.