The earliest dated American stringed instrument.
Robert Horne was active on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean during different times in his career as an instrument maker and wholesaler, however this instrument labelled “Made by Rob[er]t Horne, New York, 1757” is made of American woods, confirming everything that is said on the label. Perhaps more interesting is that it is a viola and not a violin, because this implies the intention of chamber music performance at the time it was made, another clue into eighteenth century concert life in the United States of America. Curiously this had made its way back over to England not long after it was made, and had repair inscriptions from the city of Bath, remaining in Britain until it emerged onto the market. As we learn to appreciate old American instruments more, it is inevitable that other specimens will turn up that might be older than 1757. However to date this remains the earliest dated, violin family instrument made in America. I was delighted that it was ‘saved for the nation’ by enabling its acquisition by an institution in New York where it was originally made, and thrilled to hold the record, if only just for now.
Connoissership at Oxford University.
For the academic world there are deep problems that arise from historic artefacts that are untethered from a record of provenance, and the violin is
