Next to that is a photo of the new copy. This violin was, with the "Castelbarco" cello of 1697, once a part of the quartet of Stradivaris owned by Count Cesare Castelbarco of Milan. Next to that is a photo of the new copy. By William Meredith Morris. Tel: +1 212 307 7224 Tarisio Auctions Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, "Betts". The 1704 "Betts" Stradivari violin was crafted by Antonio Stradivari, an Italian manufacturer of string instruments who lived from 1644 to 1737. the last line being written. 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. 43883.00. It can carve wood more accurately than a human can. Brompton's is delighted to offer complimentary Violin appraisals for insurance, probate or sale purposes. John R. Waddle Violins Inc. - The Betts Project He moved to London at the age of 12 to apprentice with Richard Duke. (351 mm) with double case (2) If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account. 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. . John Betts (1755-1823) was born in Lincolnshire. 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 Dukes daughter, reforming the company under his own name by 1781. Composite, newer top (19th century) original back and sides. Violin Making in the British Isles | Animato Strings . 1790 Maker - Amati - John (I) Betts 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. Bridgewood & Neitzert l UK's Leading Violin Dealers, Restorers, & Makers 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. Kurfrstendamm 28 Arthur & John Betts | Tarisio Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, "Betts". The woods used for the copy are selected for their density, grain structure, and visual similarity to the Betts violin. He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. Suite B Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 879-9930 . 1786, Violin - Professional violin, to quote a veteran Gypsy style player. United Kingdom, Email: info.london@tarisio.com Betts, John | Ingles & Hayday The Strad magazine has generously allowed us to reproduce two articles in this presentation: Exhibition Report: Born in the USA (July 2006) and National Treasure (November 2006). Betts instruments tend to exhibit very high standards of craftsmanship . Article. The 'Betts' Stradivari of 1704 - Tarisio Arthur died in 1847, leaving the shop to his two sons, Arthur II and John II. Article. [Web.] Arthur Betts used the violin for the rest of his career. violins@hebberts.com, Laurent Bourlier (III), Mirecourt, c.1820. After many years working for Duke, Betts became the foreman of his workshop and eventually took over the business. London, Violin - Please contact: Performing Arts Reading Room. John Montgomery, Sam Zygmuntowicz, Raymond Shryer also did some needed tonal adjustments on it. For auction updates, special offers and news please sign up to our mailing list. A deal was made and the instrument changed hands for the sum of only one guinea. His refusal to allow Charles to profit from the purchase led to the partners falling out. Germany, Email: info.berlin@tarisio.com John Betts school: fine antique English violin circa 1820 - Corilon violins In about 1820, an individual entered Betts' shop at the Royal Exchange in London and offered the violin in its pristine state. 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. If you are a person who is fortunate enough that you can afford to buy a genuine Stradivari, Guarneri, or Amati, by all means, you should do it! Close. John Betts (1752-1823) In 1765, around the age of 13, John Betts made the 160 kilometer journey to London from his hometown of Stamford. Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1704, "Betts" It continued into the 1860s under the direction of Arthur's sons Arthur II and John II before finally closing in 1867. The instrument made by the group involved in the previous year's class is also varnished, strung up, and played. Gregg Alf was in charge of the varnishing of this violin, and did a beautiful job. Here is a vioiin being scanned. It was given the the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, along with several other Cremonese masterpieces, by the last owner, Mrs. Gertrude Clarke Whittall in the mid 1930's, and remains there today. Arthur Betts and Charles Vernon continued the shop for a few years before Arthurs famous purchase of the 1704 Betts Stradivari for the princely sum of one guinea. The violin has a two piece back of . This violin has been purchased, and donated to the Library of Congress. The whole event was documented by NHK TV of Japan. 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. Below, Chris Germain (shown on the left) is the director of the workshop and has a violin shop in Philadelphia, PA.. John Montgomery takes care of the instruments in the Library of Congress, and has a violin shop in Raleigh, North Carolina. He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. , circa 1814Violin, John Betts What a good looking bunch! London It is of a good Stradivarian model with quite rudimentary antiquing to the varnish. United States, Email: info.newyork@tarisio.com Stamped Betts / Royal Exchange / London. The striking one-piece maple back of medium and broad curl descending from left to right; the maple ribs of narrower curl; the maple head of broad curl; the two-piece spruce table of mostly fine grain narrowing toward the flanks; the varnish a golden . Photograph (Form). This violin, a copy of the "Ole Bull" Guarneri, is finished and has been sold. It was he who established the great Betts workshop in Holborn's Royal Exchange around 1782. The one inserted into the violoncello just referred to reads : Violin - John Betts | Baroque Violin Shop His instruments reflect the same care and artistry admired in the cremonese masters. Company number: 9889926. Articles, - It was great to have the "Betts" violin in Oberlin for the two weeks of the 2011 workshop. Email: Web.. https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200155591/. Violin - 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. The words "Jo. (1775 - 1847) Younger brother of John Betts, Arthur Betts was a good violinist and had lessons from Viotti himself. Hill and Sons). He drilled holes for the upper and lower lobes and then connected them rather than working from a stencil type of pattern. Violins and Violin Makers Biographical Dictionary of the Great Italian Artistes, their Followers and Imitators, to the present time. It simply isn't true that old violins always sound better than new ones. Cookie Policy With such an incredible team in the workshop, John Betts was free to focus on importing some of the finest Italian violins for sale. Its everything we look for in a violin: the perfect combination of warmth, projection and flexibility of tone. 2 North Piazza, Londini," are also written across the back on the inside, near the top, and an inscription, which is not decipherable, is written across the belly near the left sound- hole. 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. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. The last photo is a copy we made. We also have a selection of instruments and bows for private sale all year round. Here is a picture of the 2011 Oberlin Workshop participants. It was he who established the great Betts workshop in Holborns Royal Exchange around 1782. John Betts - Maker - Brompton's Auctioneers Songs and Music. Betts business became a focus for the market for old Cremonese violins. JOHN BETTS, NO, 2, NORTH PIAZZA, ROYAL EXCHANGE, LONDINI, FECIT, JANUARY 9, 1782 London, W1G 9RL London, c.1785. The two of them are shown in the workshop discussing some aspect of the project. Bow maker / Violin maker. I am part of an ongoing collaboration with Luthier Stephen Rossow and Radiologist Steven A. Sirr, MD., on a project that uses existing and emerging technologies to explore the structure of- and ultimately replicate- famous violins. You can find out the value of a Violin by John Betts and the amount you could expect if you sold your John Betts Violin at auction. Highest auction price achieved. It is now a permanent part of the collection of instruments in the Library of Congress Music Division in Washington DC. 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. Vincenzo Panormo also worked closely with Betts and certainly provided the expertise in making that brought about a change from the Stainer- and Amati-modelled work that Betts himself specialised in, towards fine Stradivari copies. 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. John (I) Betts. They liaised with my insurers and started work within days . Betts, No. He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. (b Stamford, Lincolnshire, 1752; d London, 1823), 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.