What a good looking bunch! He is holding the violin we made there. London, England c. 1790-1810 Length of Back: 36.0 cm Upper Bout: 16.1 cm Middle Bout: 11.0 cm Lower Bout: 20.0 cm Certificates on file: Bein & Fushi 1984 William Lewis and Son 1957 Please contact: Performing Arts Reading Room. He moved to London at the age of 12 to apprentice with Richard Duke. John Betts cello, London circa 1810 First Name (*) Last Name (*) One of the great advantages to having a dealership in conjunction with a workshop is that the makers had access to all sorts of beautiful and important Italian instruments to copy. To be able to use Corilon violins in full range, we recommend activating Javascript in your browser. If on the other hand, you are a person who cannot afford to buy such a violin, you might be able to actually own a fine violin which is very close, for a fraction of the cost. Flagship Location 7711 Eastern Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 New Gaithersburg Rental Location 830 Muddy Branch Road Gaithersburg, MD 20878 A tradition of excellence since 1996 Call us for more information (301) 652-7070 1 (800) 317-9452 Hours Tues - Fri. Flagship Location: 10:00am - 6:00pm . John Betts school / circle: fine antique English violin circa 1820, Renting or leasing a violin from Corilon violins. His teacher had been none other than the famous violinist, Giovanni Battista Viotti, who played a 1709 golden period Stradivari violin, so Arthur knew what he was doing. Article. , circa 1800Cello, John Betts The height of the two f-holes varies, which might be explained by a technique that Stradivari used. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. It remained a treasured part of Betts' collection, but after the death of his son in 1852, the violin came into the hands of Hills of London and then a succession of distinguished owners. John Betts John Willis Betts, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed. 244-250 West 54th Street He studied violin making under Richard Duke. Gregg Alf was in charge of the varnishing of this violin, and did a beautiful job. Bow maker / Violin maker. If you currently own a John Betts Violin, click the button below to receive a free valuation: 2023 Brompton's Auctioneers Limited | The First Floor 33 Percy St. London W1T 2DF, Web design by Karolo Of the estimated 1,000 violins originally crafted . Tel: +1 212 307 7224 Once we have obtained CT scans of a violin and have chosen wood that matches the wood of the original, Steve Rossow can carve duplicate parts digitally, using his CNC machine. . In London, he apprenticed as a luthier with Richard Duke, one of the city's most notable violinmakers of the 18th century. Email: - 115 auction price results. The violin is an absolutely stunning Nicol Amati copy. Article. London He . In June of 2011, Steve Rossow, Steve Sirr, and John Waddle went to Oberlin, Ohio, to participate in the Oberlin violin makers workshop. He most often worked from the Amati model. He was universally known as " Old John Betts," and was well respected and patronised. He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. He was a pupil of Richard Duke, and, in the few instruments made by himself, showed that he had imbibed much of Duke's lore. As on the "Tuscan-Medici" viola [see below], the top under the fingerboard is not varnished in an area extending down 5.5 cm from the neck foot. Tel: +49 30 9404 5443, Terms of Use John Betts cello, London circa 1810 John Betts cello, London circa 1810 First Name (*) Last Name (*) My Phone. The Betts violin was the focus of the 2011 Oberlin Workshop, and John Waddle, Steve Sirr, and I were excited to have renowned makers such as Gregg Alf, Chris Germain, Bill Scott, Raymond Shryer, and Sam Zygmuntowicz join us in working on a group project creating a copy of the Betts, using a top, back, neck, and scroll that I had carved using CT . This violin was part of an event in conjunction with Cremona Mondomusica in New York city in March of 2013, called "Stradivari vs. the Modern Violin". , circa 1814Violin, John Betts The Betts family name came to prominence in the violin making world thanks to the work of John Betts, born in Stamford in 1752. A CNC machine is a precision carving machine. 1871, Violin by Giuseppe Guarneri, Cremona, ca. SKU 34098 Categories Violins, Violins $20,100-$35,000. Songs and Music. By 1781 he was working independently and hired . If you currently own a John Betts Violin, click the button below to receive a free valuation: Violin Valuation. Dismiss. The violin in the photo above has been sold. After many years working for Duke, Betts became the foreman of his workshop and eventually took over the business. United Kingdom, Email: info.london@tarisio.com You can contact the auctioneer on +44 (0)1543 251081 for more information. We also have a selection of instruments and bows for private sale all year round. . He made his own instruments as well as collecting and trading the work of old masters. Articles, - One of the most important and influential violin makers in England in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, John Betts was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1752. The Library of Congress is providing access to these materials for educational and research purposes and makes no warranty with regard to their use for other purposes. Professional violin, to quote a veteran Gypsy style player. With such an incredible team in the workshop, John Betts was free to focus on importing some of the finest Italian violins for sale. His instruments reflect the same care and artistry admired in the cremonese masters. He famously bought the 'Betts' Stradivari violin for the sum of one guinea from a naive customer around 1820. Article. Berlin, 10719 This catalog data provides the details known to the Library of Congress regarding the corresponding items and may assist users in making independent assessments of the legal status of these items as related to their desired uses. Here is a picture of the finished copy. Photography by Ellen Broughton. It continued into the 1860s under the direction of Arthur's sons Arthur II and John II before finally closing in 1867. In 1781 he was established there independently and in the following year he moved to the Royal Exchange, where he remained for the rest of his career. We use the digital information from the CT scans to make STL (stereolithography) files to directly transfer the carving of Stradivari's original archings into new tops and backs, and to directly transfer the shapes of Stradivari's original necks, and scrolls, using a CNC machine made and operated by Steve Rossow. Brompton's is delighted to offer complimentary Violin appraisals for insurance, probate or sale purposes. In some cases, the Library was unable to identify a possible rights holder and has elected to place some of those items online as an exercise of fair use for strictly non-commercial educational uses. The Betts Stradivarius violin was the focus of the workshop. Below, on the left, is a photo of the back of the Betts. What a good looking bunch! The 1704 "Betts" Stradivari violin was crafted by Antonio Stradivari, an Italian manufacturer of string instruments who lived from 1644 to 1737. The whole event was documented by NHK TV of Japan. 43883.00. The workmanship and varnish have much the same . Here are two pictures of the finished violin next to the Betts. John Betts (1752 - 1823) was apprenticed to Richard Duke in 1765 before becoming established independently in 1781 in Holborn, then the Royal Exchange. It is of a good Stradivarian model with quite rudimentary antiquing to the varnish. Items included here with the permission of the rights holders are indicated as such in the bibliographic record for each item. Gregg is holding the violin made by the class in 2010 and varnished in 2011. It is of the Amati model, plain wood, golden-brown varnish, with rather wide sound-holes. Using our new process of reverse engineering, and choosing wood carefully, we can make consistently good sounding violins that are comparable to instruments made in the past and not accessible to the public. Betts himself became Official Valuer of violins to the Customs office. The luminous golden-brown varnish is so transparent that even the most nuanced details of the tightly flamed maple used for the back can be seen, and the blackened edges of the small and charmingly shaped scroll round out this violin; it has been kept in very good condition and has undergone only minor repairs that are fitting for an instrument of its advanced age. Here is a picture of John Waddle playing the Betts. Cookie Policy Next to that is a photo of the new copy. In the United States, the 'Betts' found a home first in the collection of John Taylor Roberts, [32] and then with Gertrude Clarke Whittall, who, in 1935, donated it along with three other Stradivari instruments a violin, a viola, and a cello and four Tourte bows to the Library of Congress of Washington, D.C. photograph | 16 photographs : color | Photograph (Form). John Betts cello, London circa 1810 available at Johnson String Instrument, New England's largest and most complete violin shop. Betts instruments tend to exhibit very high standards of . The last photo is a copy we made. Web.. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, . Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as Betts was very careful in selecting and preparing his wood, and his craftsmanship is equally precise. The words "Jo. In June of 2011, Steve Rossow, Steve Sirr, and John Waddle went to Oberlin, Ohio, to participate in the Oberlin violin makers workshop. Article. The violin has a two piece back of highly-figured, quarter sawn maple which is book-matched. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Article. He was universally known as " Old John Betts," and was well respected and patronised. Some people have been surprised that modern violins could sound as good as a Stradivarius, but in three well documented tests now, this has been proven to be the case. It is preserved in fine original condition except for the pegs and bridge. Other modern violins also did well. Betts was a talented maker himself and also employed some of the most talented English makers of the period, including Vincenzo Panormo, Joseph Hill II, Henry Lockey Hill, John Furber and both B.S. It was he who established the great Betts workshop in Holborns Royal Exchange around 1782. John is also part of an ongoing collaboration with luthier Stephen M. Rossow, and Radiologist Steven A. Sirr, M.D., on a project that uses existing and emerging technologies to explore the structure of-and . For auction updates, special offers and news please sign up to our mailing list. It is now a permanent part of the collection of instruments in the Library of Congress Music Division in Washington DC. He was not an exceptional luthier but he had a good eye for business and was therefore able to provide a livelihood for many of the most notable makers of the day. Read Less. With its expressive personality, the instrument presented here was likely made by one of his students and reflects the influence of "Old . London, W1G 9RL Fax: +44 (0) 20 7900 3354, Tarisio Berlin The two of them are shown in the workshop discussing some aspect of the project. Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1704, "Betts" [Full strung instrument, front and back], Stringed Instruments at the Library of Congress, Musical Instruments at the Library of Congress, Comparison of performances on five violins, Twin Guarneri Violins Reunited at Library, Wilkins Early Stringed Instrument Collection, Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1699, "Castelbarco", Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1700, "Ward", Violin by Nicolo Amati, Cremona, 1654, "Brookings", Violin by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, Paris, ca. This violin was, with the "Castelbarco" cello of 1697, once a part of the quartet of Stradivaris owned by Count Cesare Castelbarco of Milan. Arthur managed the Betts shop after his brother's death in 1823, together with his nephew . By the time this fine antique violin was crafted in approximately 1820, John Betts was already able to look back on an impressive oeuvre. Ingles & Hayday would like to send you information about our events and services, by post, telephone and email. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. In 1781 he was established independently in Holborn, moving to Royal Exchange in 1782. Betts Workshop Violin, London circa 1820. It will be varnished in June of 2012. London United States, Email: info.newyork@tarisio.com Violins and cellos for sale in London from Bridgewood & Neitzert Ltd: The UK's leading violin dealers, restorers & makers. The varnishing was be done by Jeff Phillips and Antoine Nedelec in Oberlin. The varnish is extremely well preserved and retains some of its original texture. John (I) Betts. Length of back 35.4cm, stop 132/193mm Call us on:0207 175 1644 In 1765 he moved to London to apprentice with Richard Duke and after seven years he became shop foreman, eventually buying the business from Duke's daughter. These cookies provide basic security, authentication and network management functions. , circa 1780Cello. This violin has an electric vibrancy, as though the sound is just waiting to burst out. Whoever he was, he didn't know what he had, and accepted Arthur Bett's offer of one Guinea. The workmanship is solid and sober, without being refined and artistic like the work of Betts' master. Photograph (Form). One of the many things that is pleasing about this beautiful instrument is that it represents some of the very best work of both makers. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or other rights holders (such as holders of publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Here is a picture of the 2011 Oberlin Workshop participants. He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. In 1781 he was established there independently and in the following year he moved to the Royal Exchange, where he remained for the rest of his career. . , circa 1790Violin, John Betts In addition to his work as a maker, Betts imported the highest-caliber Read More Italian instruments to London, and was partly responsible for the ascent of Stradivari's reputation to equal Stainer's in public opinion of the period. Photograph (Form). Betts was a talented maker himself and also employed some of the most talented English makers of the period, including . They serve to improve service and provide a more personalised experience. photograph | 19 photographs : color | Photograph (Form). The 2010 project was to make a copy of the "Ole Bull" Guarneri violin, which was finished in 2011 . John Betts came from Stamford, Lincolnshire, and came to London in 1765 to apprentice with Richard Duke, rising to become the shop foreman after seven years, and eventually buying the business from Duke's daughter, reforming the company under his own name by 1781. . Brompton's is delighted to offer complimentary Violin appraisals for insurance, probate or sale purposes. About the violin. He became known as an expert dealer and businessman, and was appointed Official Valuer of violins to the Customs Office. The front is two pieces of straight grained spruce and the varnish is a beautiful reddish-brown typical of the best English instruments of the period. The "Betts" is one of Stradivari's finest works--marking the beginning of what is described as his golden period. English The violin has a two piece back of . (1847 - 1867) Arthur II and John Betts II inherited the family business at London's Royal Exchange from their father, Arthur I in 1847 and instruments with the label 'Arthur and John Betts' were made from this point until the shop closed in 1867. He was a pupil of Richard Duke, and, in the few instruments made by himself, showed that he had imbibed much of Duke's lore. John died in 1823 and the shop continued as the centre of expertise in London, under his sons John and Arthur, until 1867. Directions. Next to it is a CT scan of the back. Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, "Betts". John Betts school / circle: fine antique English violin circa 1820. A deal was made and the instrument changed hands for the sum of only one guinea. Part of that status comes from the circumstances of its acquisition. Next to that, to the right is a photo of our digitally carved copy of the back of Betts. The following images are of violin known as the Betts, by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1704. We offer buyers and sellers a bespoke private sale service, sourcing exceptional instruments and bows and matching them with the most discerning buyers Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday will offer an initial evaluation of the authenticity and value of your instrument or bow to recommend an auction estimate and reserve price for your instrument or bow Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday will offer an initial evaluation of the authenticity and value of your instrument or bow. Betts made fewer instruments in his later years, his reputation as an expert and connoisseur fully established. Normally one violin, viola, or cello, is made by the class (up to varnishing), strung up "in the white", and played, as a group project during the two week session. This area corresponds with the dimensions of the original fingerboard giving a clue to the range of notes that a musician could play. a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate. Photograph (Form). Photograph (Form). Tarisio 2023, The Muntz, Bower, Lam, an exceptional violin bow by Franois Xavier Tourte. Even Stradivari violins need adjusting from time to time. Claudia Fritz, Joseph Curtin, and Fan Tao have participated in two other similar tests, in Indiana and Paris. Instrument Making. After having been painstakingly set up and made ready to play by the expert luthiers at our workshop, our professional violinist played it and was delighted by the rich timbre, radiance and maturity of its powerful warm voice and in recording the audio samples for this violin, he was able to bring the distinctive character of its voice to life. Oxford, OX1 4DH Kemp Hall Passage, Established 1982 Tel: 020 7249 9398 . This instrument is now in my possession, and in excellent condition, having been recently repaired by Mr. J. W. Owen of Leeds. , circa 1800Viola, John Betts John Edward Betts (also known as John Betts I, 1755-1823) was an English luthier, a crafter of stringed instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars and harps. Violin maker. John Betts London. Composite, newer top (19th century) original back and sides. Article. While these craftsmen produced a very important body of work, particularly the cellos which have become highly sought-after, Betts greatest importance was as a violin expert. Ward of London. It can carve wood more accurately than a human can. Its everything we look for in a violin: the perfect combination of warmth, projection and flexibility of tone. JOHN BETTS, NO, 2, NORTH PIAZZA, ROYAL EXCHANGE, LONDINI, FECIT, JANUARY 9, 1782 Betts became known as an expert connoisseur and was partially responsible for developing the outstanding reputation of Stradivari instruments in London. the last line being written. The oevure of John Betts began with his training under Richard Duke, one of the most highly esteemed English luthiers of the 18thcentury who passed his craft along to only three students: his son Richard Duke Jr., John Betts, and Betts nephew Edward Betts, who later worked at his uncles workshop; together they carried on Dukes great artisanal legacy within their own family tradition. London, c.1785. In 2011, John Waddle was in charge of the back, Raymond Shryer, who has his violin shop in Canada, was in charge of the top, Gregg Alf, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, was in charge of the rib structure, and Sam Zygmuntowicz, whose violin shop is in Brooklyn, New York, was in charge of the neck and scroll. Because of his great knowledge of the history of violin making, Betts was an excellent copyist. The tone is moderately powerful, and very sweet and mellow. Germany, Email: info.berlin@tarisio.com photograph | 35 photographs : color | Photograph (Form). This violin from about 1790 is stamped on the back Betts / Royal Exchange / London. including this fine violin, Betts' greatest importance was as an expert and entrepreneur, responsible for making London a major centre of violin making activity in the 19th century. Chris Germain is third from the left in the front row. photograph | 20 photographs : color | Photograph (Form). Email (*) Message (*) Enter Captcha. Next to him is Gregg Alf. There may be content that is protected as "works for hire" (copyright may be held by the party that commissioned the original work) and/or under the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. The instrument made by the group involved in the previous year's class is also varnished, strung up, and played. Close. Robert Somers Brookings, an economist, founded in 1916 what became the Brookings Institution, a respected private nonprofit public policy organization. (1752 1823), Little is known about the early life of John Betts, son of Edward Betts, a farmer from Stamford. Login or Register for a FREE account to gain full access to our library, John Betts [Web.] John Betts violin label. , 1803Viola, John Betts John Betts. Betts Workshop Violin, London circa 1820. Under Arthur especially the shop became known for its reproductions of historic instruments, similar to the activities of J.B. Vuillaume in Paris. Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site, detect errors, and provide better overall analytics. The "Betts" is among the most legendary violins from Stradivari's workshop. It remained a treasured . He was born in 1752 in Stamford and died in 1823 in London. Under the sole ownership of Arthur, the workshop became incredibly skilled at imitating the work of the great masters and participated in some of the ethically short-sighted restoration practices that went on during the Victorian era. By William Meredith Morris. This violin, a copy of the "Ole Bull" Guarneri, is finished and has been sold. He opened an attractive premises and amongst his luthiers were . Professional violin, to quote a veteran Gypsy style player. If you agree to being contacted in this way, please tick the relevant box. The violin is recognized as one of Stradivari's best examples. London A very successful employee, Betts assumed the role of shop foreman . 1730, "Kreisler", Violin by Giuseppe Guaneri, Cremona, ca. 130 High Street, To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. In the first instance, we suggest submitting good-quality images to us, preferably by email to info@ingleshayday.com or by completing the valuation form. It's questionable how many violins John Betts himself made, but he employed an illustrious group of makers such as Tobin, Vincenzo and Joseph Panormo, both Bernard Simon Fendts and John Furber, along with other less well known names. He became known as an expert dealer and businessman, and was appointed Official Valuer of violins to the Customs Office. He employed G. Gillingham, Edward Betts and John Carter, then Vincenzo Panormo, Joseph and Henry Lockey Hill, Richard Tobin, Bernard Fendt (father and son), John Furber, and a minor maker named Isaac Newton. It was he who established the great Betts workshop in Holborn's Royal Exchange around 1782. This violin has been purchased, and donated to the Library of Congress. Ok, got it! In the last year, they spent several months painstakingly putting back together my severely damaged 1790 John Betts cello. He did not make many instruments himself, but employed excellent workmen, such as the Panormos, John Carter, Edward Betts, Bernhard Fendt, &c. The work is excellent, but poor instruments were occasionally sold by him, bearing his label. Steve Sirr and John Waddle have been CT scanning violins, violas, and cellos since 1989. Can you tell which is which? Article. Talk to the Brompton's Team +44 (0)207 580 9550 . Traces of the compass points left when he marked the position of the lobes and nicks are still visible and can be seen using a mirror inside the top. It was great to have the "Betts" violin in Oberlin for the two weeks of the 2011 workshop. Suggested credit line: Library of Congress, Music Division. This violin from about 1790 is stamped on the back 'Betts / Royal . He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. Sam Zygmuntowicz was in charge of the neck and scroll, and is shown here putting the final touches on the neck.