Jack Lott, London, c.1840

Description

A superb English viola by Jack Lott, London, Circa 1840, the Ex-Engelbrecht
Labelled: J.F.LOTT / MAKER / LONDON.

A spectacular early example of Jack Lott’s workmanship. There are only 10 violas by Stradivari in existence, and during Jack Lott’s period of activity the 1696 “Spanish Court” and 1731 “Paganini” viola were known to the London trade and this instrument is an attempt to imagine what a shorter 40cm viola as Stradivari would have made it might have appeared as. The soundholes and scroll having some similarity to the 1731 Stradivari that Paganini acquired from Lott’s employer’s Davis in 1832 though the rest of the instrument is entirely to Lott’s taste. It is rare to see an instrument by Lott that is fully varnished as new, using his complex system of oil glazes that creates such a compelling result, and this is quite the prettiest example I have come across, presenting an admirable comparison when put against well preserved examples of Stradivari’s golden period.

From the estate of the late Eileen Engelbrecht. The previous owner of this viola Eileen Engelbrecht (1945 – 2013) was a distinguished free-lance musician based in London but also travelling world-wide. She was a founder member of the London Sinfonietta and was much in demand as a soloist and ensemble player. Eileen deputised for her teacher Fred Riddle at the Royal College of Music (where she also taught Junior Exhibitioners for 15 years) and in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra where she was the second female player permitted. She was the first to be offered a principal-ship but declined due to other commitments. Eileen was a Gold Medallist at the Royal college of Music and joint winner of the 1972 BBC Viola Competition, in which she played this very fine Lott viola.