Betts, the leading instrument dealer of his time in London, was one of the first to import Italian instruments. Amati, in collaboration with leading experts, have published a few key books in the field of stringed instruments. JOHN BETTS A VIOLIN, LONDON, CIRCA 1780 Unlabeled, branded at the button BETTS ROYAL EXCHANGE LONDON, branded at the end pin J. BETTS, length of back: 13 13/16 in. Instruments made at the workshop are offered for sale to the public, with the proceeds going to keep the workshop in operation. 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. Bow maker / Violin maker Instrument Making. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200155591/. Using another set of wood, also carefully selected, John, Steve Sirr, and Steve Rossow have completed another Betts copy violin. London, England c. 1790-1810 Length of Back: 36.0 cm Upper Bout: 16.1 cm Middle Bout: 11.0 cm Lower Bout: 20.0 cm Certificates on file: Bein & Fushi 1984 William Lewis and Son 1957 This catalog data provides the details known to the Library of Congress regarding the corresponding items and may assist users in making independent assessments of the legal status of these items as related to their desired uses. 1786, Violin - The 2010 project was to make a copy of the "Ole Bull" Guarneri violin, which was finished in 2011 . 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. photograph | 35 photographs : color | Photograph (Form). 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. Betts was a talented maker himself and also employed some of the most talented English makers of the period, including . United Kingdom, Email: info.london@tarisio.com John Betts. , circa 1814Violin, John Betts Next to it is a CT scan of the back. 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. He is holding the violin we made there. The violin in the photo above has been sold. Article. Inscribed inside the top in the upper treble bout are the words: The Betts / Stradivarius; in the lower treble bout the inscription reads: Purchased from / the duchess / of Camposelice / by W. E. Hill & Son / March 1892. 244-250 West 54th Street The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. 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. John Betts school / circle: fine antique English violin circa 1820, Renting or leasing a violin from Corilon violins. Books from Amati. The last photo is a copy we made. John died in 1823 and the shop continued as the centre of expertise in London, under his sons John and Arthur, until 1867. The Betts Stradivarius violin was the focus of the workshop. It was in this environment of exquisite craftsmanship that this violin was created a few years before John Betts death. , 1803Viola, John Betts Please contact: Performing Arts Reading Room. Leaders of the group are chosen to be in charge of different parts of the project each year. The violin is in exceptional original condition. The woods used for the copy are selected for their density, grain structure, and visual similarity to the Betts violin. 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. photograph | 18 photographs : color | Photograph (Form). John Betts (1752 - 1823) was apprenticed to Richard Duke in 1765 before becoming established independently in 1781 in Holborn, then the Royal Exchange. The violin has a two piece back of . Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1704, "Betts" [Full strung instrument, front and back], Stringed Instruments at the Library of Congress, Musical Instruments at the Library of Congress, Comparison of performances on five violins, Twin Guarneri Violins Reunited at Library, Wilkins Early Stringed Instrument Collection, Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1699, "Castelbarco", Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1700, "Ward", Violin by Nicolo Amati, Cremona, 1654, "Brookings", Violin by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, Paris, ca. a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate. Article. John Betts London. Professional violin, to quote a veteran Gypsy style player. The next picture shows Stradivari's beautiful arching being re-created using our new process. I wrote an article, in collaboration with Steve Sirr, and Steve Rossow, on the Betts, which is available in the May 2010 issue of "the Strad" Magazine, published in London. Violin by Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, "Betts". He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. 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. Brompton's is delighted to offer complimentary Violin appraisals for insurance, probate or sale purposes. In about 1820, an individual entered Betts' shop at the Royal Exchange in London and offered the violin in its pristine state. 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. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. We were allowed to play it. 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. The violin is an absolutely stunning Nicol Amati copy. It is of the Amati model, plain wood, golden-brown varnish, with rather wide sound-holes. A panel of experts there chose our violin over the three Stradivari's in the test. 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. Brompton's is delighted to offer complimentary Violin appraisals for insurance, probate or sale purposes. Professional violin, to quote a veteran Gypsy style player. Betts instruments tend to exhibit very high standards of . We use this information to help choose the woods used and to guide us in the making of accurate copies. The striking one-piece maple back of medium and broad curl descending from left to right; the maple ribs of narrower curl; the maple head of broad curl; the two-piece spruce table of mostly fine grain narrowing toward the flanks; the varnish a golden . John Betts violin label. It was great to have the "Betts" violin in Oberlin for the two weeks of the 2011 workshop. 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. Tel: +1 212 307 7224 His own workmanship was replaced by the efforts of his many employees after Read more. Violin making is what John was trained to do at The Violin Making School of America, in Salt Lake City, Utah (1978-1981). 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. It simply isn't true that old violins always sound better than new ones. - 115 auction price results. In 1781 he established his own workshop. We have sent you an email. London, c.1785. Suggested credit line: Library of Congress, Music Division. Fine Fretted String Instruments2345 Winchester Blvd. This violin has been purchased, and donated to the Library of Congress. Article. He died in 1823, leaving the business to his younger brother Arthur, who learned the craft from him. He used two or three different labels. John Betts cello, London circa 1810 John Betts cello, London circa 1810 First Name (*) Last Name (*) My Phone. Tarisio 2023, The Muntz, Bower, Lam, an exceptional violin bow by Franois Xavier Tourte. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permission ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. 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. Photography by Ellen Broughton. It is now a permanent part of the collection of instruments in the Library of Congress Music Division in Washington DC. Part of that status comes from the circumstances of its acquisition. He drilled holes for the upper and lower lobes and then connected them rather than working from a stencil type of pattern. Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site, detect errors, and provide better overall analytics. Betts Workshop Violin, London circa 1820. Length of back 35.4cm, stop 132/193mm 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 Dukes daughter, reforming the company under his own name by 1781. In turn his workshop influenced the leading makers of the day to look towards increasingly detailed copying of Cremonese masterpieces, assisted to a great extent by his relationship with Vincenzo Panormo, an Italian maker working in London. . 43883.00. Contact Us. Photograph (Form). After many years working for Duke, Betts became the foreman of his workshop and eventually took over the business. (born February 17, 1949 in Moncton, New Brunswick) is a teacher and a New Brunswick politician. Articles, - By 1781 he was working independently and hired . John Betts Auction Results. The original neck is in the old style. London [Web.] 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 Edward Betts (also known as John Betts I, 1755-1823) was an English luthier, a crafter of stringed instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars and harps. In about 1820, an individual entered Betts' shop at the Royal Exchange in London and offered the violin in its pristine state. The shop thrived for another 20 years before finally closing in 1867, having firmly linked the family name with some of the worlds greatest instruments. 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. He most often worked from the Amati model. Users may need to contact The Strad for any re-use of the articles. (1847 - 1867) Arthur II and John Betts II inherited the family business at London's Royal Exchange from their father, Arthur I in 1847 and instruments with the label 'Arthur and John Betts' were made from this point until the shop closed in 1867. Article. SKU 34098 Categories Violins, Violins $20,100-$35,000. Article. John Betts cello, London circa 1810 available at Johnson String Instrument, New England's largest and most complete violin shop. Violin maker. John Dodd and Thomas Tubbs were among the shop's best suppliers of bows. The violin has a two piece back of highly-figured, quarter sawn maple which is book-matched. This violin, a copy of the "Ole Bull" Guarneri, is finished and has been sold. Chris Germain is third from the left in the front row. London Read Less. 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. Kemp Hall Passage, Suite B Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 879-9930 . Betts, No. Next to that is a photo of the new copy. Wurlitzer sold the "Betts" to John T. Roberts of Hartford, Connecticut, later acting as an intermediary in its sale to Mrs. Whittall. This website uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best user experience. He famously bought the 'Betts' Stradivari violin for the sum of one guinea from a naive customer around 1820. 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. The instrument made by the group involved in the previous year's class is also varnished, strung up, and played. Intl: +44 207 175 1737 If you missed the magazine, you can download the pdf here-. This violin from about 1790 is stamped on the back 'Betts / Royal . John Betts Nationalit Ca Wikipdia en Franais. 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 . 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. If you choose to continue using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. He came to London to work for Richard Duke in Holborn in 1765. A deal was made and the instrument changed hands for the sum of only one guinea. Betts became known as an expert connoisseur and was partially responsible for developing the outstanding reputation of Stradivari instruments in London. Arthur Betts used the violin for the rest of his career. 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. These cookies cannot be disabled and you cannot use the website without them. Whoever he was, he didn't know what he had, and accepted Arthur Bett's offer of one Guinea. Betts was a violinist, teacher, and violin dealer. 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. Bow maker / Violin maker. He was born in 1752 in Stamford and died in 1823 in London. A CNC machine is a precision carving machine. Photograph (Form). Betts made fewer instruments in his later years, his reputation as an expert and connoisseur fully established. The violin was made in 1704, and retains what is believed to be its original untouched label. John Betts John Willis Betts, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed. The violin is recognized as one of Stradivari's best examples. violins@hebberts.com, Laurent Bourlier (III), Mirecourt, c.1820. Ok, got it! The "Betts" is among the most legendary violins from Stradivari's workshop. A very successful employee, Betts assumed the role of shop foreman . His shop employed many of the best contemporary makers, including Joseph and Lockey Hill, and later Vincenzo Panormo and Bernard Simon Fendt. 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 was universally known as " Old John Betts," and was well respected and patronised. The words "Jo. Talk to the Brompton's Team +44 (0)207 580 9550 . (351 mm) with double case (2) If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account. Apprenticed to Richard Duke in 1765, subsequently buying the business from Dukes daughter Anne. Dismiss. With its expressive. At this stage, the assessment is free and without obligation. In 1781 he was established independently in Holborn, moving to Royal Exchange in 1782. Gregg is holding the violin made by the class in 2010 and varnished in 2011. 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. 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. John Betts cello, London circa 1810 First Name (*) Last Name (*) 86-87 Wimpole Street | The violin is in stunning original condition with no cracks. Robert Somers Brookings, an economist, founded in 1916 what became the Brookings Institution, a respected private nonprofit public policy organization. Please follow the link to confirm your registration. Here is a picture of John Waddle playing the Betts. . The workmanship is solid and sober, without being refined and artistic like the work of Betts' master. Article. These cookies provide basic security, authentication and network management functions. Article. The height of the two f-holes varies, which might be explained by a technique that Stradivari used. With its expressive personality, the instrument presented here was likely made by one of his students and reflects the influence of "Old . Stamped Betts / Royal Exchange / London. Choose whether this website uses functional cookies or cookies for tracking and performance, as described. He became known as an expert dealer and businessman, and was appointed Official Valuer of violins to the Customs Office. He moved to London at the age of 12 to apprentice with Richard Duke. Fax: +1 212 202 4660, Tarisio London John Betts (1755-1823) was born in Lincolnshire. 1790 With such an incredible team in the workshop, John Betts was free to focus on importing some of the finest Italian violins for sale. 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. 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. 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. 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 >. 35.6 cm London, 1810 c. after "Nicolo Amati", 73.6 cm London, Early 19th C. [Workshop of]. 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.