11th Floor New York, NY 10019 With such an incredible team in the workshop, John Betts was free to focus on importing some of the finest Italian violins for sale. Photograph (Form). Gregg Alf is shown here carving the final shape of the blocks in the rib structure of the copy. , circa 1814Violin, John Betts Articles, - violins@hebberts.com, Laurent Bourlier (III), Mirecourt, c.1820. 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. We also have a selection of instruments and bows for private sale all year round. Brompton's reference library, in association with Claudio Amighetti, provides you with the price of a Violin by John Betts from Brompton's March 2012 auction results. The instrument is the work of one of his students or another luthier who upheld the Betts tradition, making it a worthy representative of early 19thcentury English violin making, and its interesting, stylish aesthetic is just as compelling as its exceptionally beautiful sound. 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. John Betts school / circle: fine antique English violin circa 1820, Renting or leasing a violin from Corilon violins. London, W1G 9RL In June of 2011, Steve Rossow, Steve Sirr, and John Waddle went to Oberlin, Ohio, to participate in the Oberlin violin makers workshop. Wurlitzer sold the "Betts" to John T. Roberts of Hartford, Connecticut, later acting as an intermediary in its sale to Mrs. Whittall. The woods used for the copy are selected for their density, grain structure, and visual similarity to the Betts violin. A very successful employee, Betts assumed the role of shop foreman . United Kingdom, Email: info.london@tarisio.com Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site, detect errors, and provide better overall analytics. Highest auction price achieved. Whoever he was, he didn't know what he had, and accepted Arthur Bett's offer of one Guinea. His own workmanship was replaced by the efforts of his many employees after about 1790 and these represented the cream of the London profession, including John Carter, Joseph and Henry Lockey Hill, Richard Tobin and the Fendts. (1775 - 1847) Younger brother of John Betts, Arthur Betts was a good violinist and had lessons from Viotti himself. His shop was staffed by some of the best 18th and 19th century British craftsmen, including Vincenzo Panormo, Joseph Hill II, Henry Lockey Hill, Richard Tobin, Bernard Simon Fendt, and John Furber. 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. Betts himself became Official Valuer of violins to the Customs office. . Three Stradivari violins and eleven modern violins were played in a controlled double blind test. The two of them are shown in the workshop discussing some aspect of the project. This violin, a copy of the "Ole Bull" Guarneri, is finished and has been sold. Fine Fretted String Instruments 2345 Winchester Blvd. Betts instruments tend to exhibit very high standards of . It was he who established the great Betts workshop in Holborn's Royal Exchange around 1782. Here is a picture of the finished copy. Arthur died in 1847, leaving the shop to his two sons, Arthur II and John II. He was born in 1752 in Stamford and died in 1823 in London. He became known as an expert dealer and businessman, and was appointed Official Valuer of violins to the Customs Office. John Betts (1755-1823) was born in Lincolnshire. 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. Fax: +44 (0) 20 7900 3354, Tarisio Berlin The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. 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. He opened an attractive premises and amongst his luthiers were . Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as John (I) Betts. Oxford, OX1 4DH Article. The 1704 "Betts" Stradivari violin was crafted by Antonio Stradivari, an Italian manufacturer of string instruments who lived from 1644 to 1737. Robert Somers Brookings, an economist, founded in 1916 what became the Brookings Institution, a respected private nonprofit public policy organization. John Betts school / circle: fine antique English violin circa 1820. Meet the team and read about our relationship with Sothebys, Ingles & Hayday Ltd, 77 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 6RF | London: +44 (0) 20 7042 7337 | Visit our London Shop, 6th June Catalogue Rosenberg Collection Part II, Looking to buy or sell an instrument by this maker >. They serve to improve service and provide a more personalised experience. Composite, newer top (19th century) original back and sides. 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. 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. 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. photograph | 18 photographs : color | Photograph (Form). This area corresponds with the dimensions of the original fingerboard giving a clue to the range of notes that a musician could play. It was in this environment of exquisite craftsmanship that this violin was created a few years before John Betts death. He was universally known as " Old John Betts," and was well respected and patronised. 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. By 1920, the "Betts" was owned by R. D. Waddell of Glasgow. , circa 1790Cello, John Betts Unfortunately, your registration has been declined by the auctioneer. 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. 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. Most work is branded Betts, Royal Exchange on the upper back. Violins and Violin Makers Biographical Dictionary of the Great Italian Artistes, their Followers and Imitators, to the present time. 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". He moved to London at the age of 12 to apprentice with Richard Duke. Bow maker / Violin maker The varnishing was be done by Jeff Phillips and Antoine Nedelec in Oberlin. 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. His instruments reflect the same care and artistry admired in the cremonese masters. Betts became known as an expert connoisseur and was partially responsible for developing the outstanding reputation of Stradivari instruments in London. Brompton's is delighted to offer complimentary Violin appraisals for insurance, probate or sale purposes. If you agree to being contacted in this way, please tick the relevant box. . These cookies cannot be disabled and you cannot use the website without them. The "Betts" is among the most legendary violins from Stradivari's workshop. Login or Register for a FREE account to gain full access to our library, John Betts John Betts cello, London circa 1810 John Betts cello, London circa 1810 First Name (*) Last Name (*) My Phone. If you choose to continue using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. It continued into the 1860s under the direction of Arthur's sons Arthur II and John II before finally closing in 1867. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200155591/. Arthur Betts used the violin for the rest of his career. (1752 1823), Little is known about the early life of John Betts, son of Edward Betts, a farmer from Stamford. Tel: +1 212 307 7224 Here is a picture of the 2011 Oberlin Workshop participants. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. It bears its original label. His own workmanship was replaced by the efforts of his many employees after Read more. Violin maker. Tarisio Auctions 28-30 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 1HG. 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. . The following images are of violin known as the Betts, by Antonio Stradivari, made in 1704. His shop employed many of the best contemporary makers, including Joseph and Lockey Hill, and later Vincenzo Panormo and Bernard Simon Fendt. Not surprisingly, the nephew thought the violin should belong to the firm, but Arthur claimed that since he bought it with his own money, (one guinea) it was his. London, c.1785. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Can you tell which is which? Under Arthur especially the shop became known for its reproductions of historic instruments, similar to the activities of J.B. Vuillaume in Paris. Chris Germain is third from the left in the front row. Kemp Hall Passage, Violins and cellos for sale in London from Bridgewood & Neitzert Ltd: The UK's leading violin dealers, restorers & makers. He is holding the violin we made there. The Betts Stradivarius violin was the focus of the workshop. The Betts Stradivarius violin was the focus of the workshop. You can contact the auctioneer on +44 (0)1543 251081 for more information. 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. John Montgomery, Sam Zygmuntowicz, Raymond Shryer also did some needed tonal adjustments on it. (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. 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 varnish is extremely well preserved and retains some of its original texture. London 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. The Betts family name came to prominence in the violin making world thanks to the work of John Betts, born in Stamford in 1752. 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. Betts business became a focus for the market for old Cremonese violins. 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. We hold two auctions a year at Sothebys in London, generally in March and October. The violin has a two piece back of highly-figured, quarter sawn maple which is book-matched. The violin was made in 1704, and retains what is believed to be its original untouched label. We were allowed to play it. The "Ward" acquired its name from J. 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. 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 . 2023 Fine Fretted String Instruments. It simply isn't true that old violins always sound better than new ones. John Betts Auction Results. 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. In the last year, they spent several months painstakingly putting back together my severely damaged 1790 John Betts cello. 35.6 cm London, 1810 c. after "Nicolo Amati", 73.6 cm London, Early 19th C. [Workshop of]. If you missed the magazine, you can download the pdf here-. Part of that status comes from the circumstances of its acquisition. The 1704 Betts violin is named after John Betts, a violinmaker in London who bought the violin in excellent condition for one guinea in 1820. 1786, Violin - A deal was made and the instrument changed hands for the sum of only one guinea. 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. 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. Web.. https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200155591/. It remained a treasured . London The violin has a two piece back of . , circa 1800Cello, John Betts The next picture shows Stradivari's beautiful arching being re-created using our new process. | Amati, in collaboration with leading experts, have published a few key books in the field of stringed instruments. Here are two pictures of the finished violin next to the Betts. Article. This violin has been purchased, and donated to the Library of Congress. Betts Workshop Violin, London circa 1820. Songs and Music. Close. London Photograph (Form). This violin from about 1790 is stamped on the back 'Betts / Royal . Betts Workshop Violin, London circa 1820. Article. 1730, "Kreisler", Violin by Giuseppe Guaneri, Cremona, ca. After many years working for Duke, Betts became the foreman of his workshop and eventually took over the business. Dismiss. Next to that is a photo of the new copy. John Betts John Willis Betts, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed. How much is my John Betts Violin worth? Marketing cookies are used to track the effectiveness of advertising, to provide more relevant services, and to deliver better ads that suit your interests. Betts was very careful in selecting and preparing his wood, and his craftsmanship is equally precise. The words "Jo. , 1803Viola, John Betts Betts was a violinist, teacher, and violin dealer. The violin is in stunning original condition with no cracks. He most often worked from the Amati model. It is now a permanent part of the collection of instruments in the Library of Congress Music Division in Washington DC. Photography by Ellen Broughton. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. John Betts (1752 - 1823) was apprenticed to Richard Duke in 1765 before becoming established independently in 1781 in Holborn, then the Royal Exchange. Ward of London. 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. 130 High Street, 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. He died in 1823, leaving the business to his younger brother Arthur, who learned the craft from him. John Betts was born in Stamford, England, in 1752. Privacy Policy The last photo is a copy we made. Once we have obtained quality CT scans of a violin, we can analyze its physical properties, density, mass, linear measurements, volumes, etc. 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. 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. In London, he apprenticed as a luthier with Richard Duke, one of the city's most notable violinmakers of the 18th century. 1871, Violin by Giuseppe Guarneri, Cremona, ca. These cookies collect data to remember the choices users make on the website. Violin - The Library of Congress would like to learn more about these materials and would like to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information or know of their history. London 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. What a good looking bunch! Tel: +44 (0) 20 7354 5763 Using a carefully selected matching top, back, neck and scroll carved by Steve Rossow on his CNC machine directly from computer files generated from CT scans of "the Betts" violin, the Oberlin Betts copy was completed by the class as a group project to the point of being playable but without varnish. London Article. Ward owned the violin for over 40 years; on his death it passed to the Hills. Kurfrstendamm 28 Steve Sirr and John Waddle have been CT scanning violins, violas, and cellos since 1989. Betts was one of the first in this country to do extensive business in Italian instruments, and a large number of fine violins found their way into this country in his time. 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. He . The violin is in exceptional original condition. Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, "Betts". 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. The workmanship and varnish have much the same characteristics the latter being, as a rule, of a tint which is a shade warmer than the varnish of Duke. By 1781 he was working independently and hired his first apprentice around that time. The one inserted into the violoncello just referred to reads : John Betts London. The history of the Stradivarius violin, now known as "the Betts", up to the early 1820's, is completely unknown, but it was at that time that an unknown person walked into the violin shop of Arthur Betts and his nephew, with the violin and offered it for sale. please inquire . Using another set of wood, also carefully selected, John, Steve Sirr, and Steve Rossow have completed another Betts copy violin. Next to him is Gregg Alf. If you currently own a John Betts Violin, click the button below to receive a free valuation: Violin Valuation. Claudia Fritz, Joseph Curtin, and Fan Tao have participated in two other similar tests, in Indiana and Paris. Of the estimated 1,000 violins originally crafted . London The workmanship and varnish have much the same . Fax: +1 212 202 4660, Tarisio London Please contact us for more information. 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. 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. This violin was, with the "Castelbarco" cello of 1697, once a part of the quartet of Stradivaris owned by Count Cesare Castelbarco of Milan. This is a composite violin: the back, ribs and scroll were made by Andrea Guarneri in 1694 and the replacement front was made by John Betts in the 1790s. 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. 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. John Betts cello, London circa 1810 First Name (*) Last Name (*) Article. Even Stradivari violins need adjusting from time to time. 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. London, Violin - Submit button. The workmanship is solid and sober, without being refined and artistic like the work of Betts' master. , circa 1790Violin, John Betts His refusal to allow Charles to profit from the purchase led to the partners falling out. Photograph (Form). Read Less. He famously bought the 'Betts' Stradivari violin for the sum of one guinea from a naive customer around 1820. Betts, No. Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, "Betts". We have sent you an email. Article. 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. They liaised with my insurers and started work within days . 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 . The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Over the course of its history the shop produced a large range of instruments, from inexpensive models with painted purfling to some of the most exquisite Stradivari and Guarneri copies in the history of British violin making. In 1781 he established his own workshop. Here is a picture of Raymond Shryer smoothing the top for the Betts copy with a scraper. Fendts. Berlin, 10719 Apprenticed to Richard Duke in 1765, subsequently buying the business from Dukes daughter Anne. Please contact: Performing Arts Reading Room. Intl: +44 207 175 1737 Italian instruments to London, and was partly responsible for the ascent of, Sales Tax (New York, London and Berlin Sales), Panormo The life and work of Vincenzo and his sons Latest research, new biography, 22 instruments and bows, LSO Digital Exhibition, Violins of the LSO Violin Festival. . 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. In 1923, Jay C. Freeman of Wurlitzer approached Waddell in Scotland and came away with the "Betts" as well as the "Leduc" Guarneri. He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. 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. Next to that, to the right is a photo of our digitally carved copy of the back of Betts. 43883.00. Gregg is holding the violin made by the class in 2010 and varnished in 2011. The 2010 project was to make a copy of the "Ole Bull" Guarneri violin, which was finished in 2011 . Suite BCampbell, CA 95008(408) 879-9930Mon - Sat 9am - 5:30pm. Choose whether this website uses functional cookies or cookies for tracking and performance, as described. 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. 1786 It's questionable how many violins 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.