Violin by the Workshop of John Betts, London, c.1810
John Betts (1752 - 1823) was apprenticed to Richard Duke in 1765 before becoming established independently in 1781 in Holborn, then the Royal Exchange. He employed G. Gilligham, 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 names Isaac Newton. Betts himself became Official Valuer of violins to the Customs office. While these craftsmen produced a very important body of work, 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.
INSTRUMENT SPECIFICATIONS
This instrument is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity by John Dilworth (2019) in which the violin is described as:
…made in my opinion in the workshop of John Betts in London, c.1810.
The back is of a single piece of slab sawn maple marked with a handsome deep figure rising from left to right. The ribs are of similar wood, cut on the quarter. The scroll is of plain maple.
The front is of two matched pieces of pine with grain of broad width throughout.
The varnish is of a dark red brown colour and thin consistency, applied over a dark ground.
No internal label
Measurements:
String length: 328mm
Length of back: 355mm
Upper / lower bout: 165mm / 206mm