My selection of instruments is guided by my deep knowledge of the violin, and by my experience as a musician working with musicians. What you see, and hold, and play may have been cherished for centuries, and my task is to bring these instruments to the next generation of musicians to enjoy. I believe that it is important at every level to represent only instruments that I would find compelling to own for myself and to play.
Other parts of this website reflect the rigorous research and investment of knowledge that supports every instrument that I chose to represent for sale.
The Magic of the Silver Swan
I am delighted to support the Bowes Museum for their exhibition on the life and work of John Joseph Merlin, one of the most extraordinary inventors of the eighteenth century. Our assistance included arranging the loan of an experimental violin, viola and cello for exhibition and performance during the landmark exhibition.
MY studio in historic Oxford
In 2020 I moved from London to premises in Old Kemp Hall on the High Street in the vibrant heart of the historic city of Oxford. I am a little over an hour from London with extremely convenient links to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. I am within a few minutes reach of at least five renowned concert venues.
Brothers Amati
It was my privilege to provide specialist consultation services including extensive forensic condition reporting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to support the acquisition of the five-string Ex-Amaryllis Fleming piccolo-cello made by the Brothers Amati, one of the best-preserved and most significant examples of violoncello making by any member of the Amati dynasty.
INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE
The Magic of the Silver Swan
I am delighted to support the Bowes Museum for their exhibition on the life and work of John Joseph Merlin, one of the most extraordinary inventors of the eighteenth century. Our assistance included arranging the loan of an experimental violin, viola and cello for exhibition and performance during the landmark exhibition.
MY studio in historic Oxford
In 2020 I moved from London to premises in Old Kemp Hall on the High Street in the vibrant heart of the historic city of Oxford. I am a little over an hour from London with extremely convenient links to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. I am within a few minutes reach of at least five renowned concert venues.
Brothers Amati
It was my privilege to provide specialist consultation services including extensive forensic condition reporting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to support the acquisition of the five-string Ex-Amaryllis Fleming piccolo-cello made by the Brothers Amati, one of the best-preserved and most significant examples of violoncello making by any member of the Amati dynasty.
NEWS
RESEARCH
I am constantly engaged in research as a core element of developing expertise. Much of my work can be read on my research blog, violinsandviolinists.com including articles that have been published in print form elsewhere. I have an enviable international reputation in this field.
Follow the link for our study on the Voller Brothers, examining a violin that shows off many of their fundamental traits.
EXPERTISE
I offer a high level of expertise for all violin-family instruments and bows, but have a special regard for British instruments. Where it is appropriate we are able to offer certificates of authenticity for instruments within our field of knowledge.
We also offer a range of expert services, the most common of which is insurance appraisals.
FORENSIC ANALYSIS
Forensic tools are increasingly important for understanding the condition of fragile instruments that are already hundreds of years old. Restoration is a reality of old instruments, and high-quality restorations preserve the absolute intergrity of the instrument. Forensic analysis is helpful to provide a transparent and trustworthy assessment of an instrument’s history.
MUSEUM SERVICES
“Ex-Amaryllis Fleming” A Violoncello Piccolo by the Brothers Amati, Cremona, 1620-1630.
For many years we have provided expert advice to museums around the world in relation to musical instruments on display and for acquisition. We recently assisted with condition reporting and evaluation of the iconic Ex-Amaryllis Fleming five-string brothers Amati cello to enable its acquisition by a major public institution. Click below to discover more highlights of our work with museum objects.
Violins and Violinists is my research blog which deals with issues of violin connoisseurship and historical performance practice. It includes versions of many lectures I have given and articles that have been published elsewhere.
Almost every musician looking for a new instrument or bow has a different way of auditioning instruments. Whilst it is clear that there is no standard technique that musicians learn as a student, some received wisdom can be rather indifferent and sometimes counter-productive. In looking for a way of thinking about violin sound, Ruggiero Ricci’s “The Glory of Cremona” comes to the rescue.
The legend of violin making on London Bridge is ingrained into the history of the British violin, but until now very little evidence has emerged to support the presence of makers in this area. This article lays out new research that identifies roughly half a dozen makers active from the 17th century to the 1740s, many of whose work shows the profound influence of London’s great genius, Daniel Parker.
Antonio Stradivari’s “Messiah” made in 1716 is simultaneously the best preserved of all his instruments in existence, and an example from the height of his “Golden Period”. Owing to it’s new-like condition, it was donated to the Ashmolean Museum in 1940 by the firm of W.E. Hill & Sons to become a benchmark for future makers. Despite their high hopes for it, its usefulness has been overshadowed by rumour and legend.