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Bertrand, Nicolas

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  1. A dictionary of violin makers (1896)

    Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol …

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    1. Bertolotti, De. See Gasparo da Salò.
    2. Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol dated 1687; another with the label "Nicolas Bertrand, Paris, 1720," well made, with a thick red varnish; a treble-viol dated 1701 in the Brussels Museum; a small five-stringed viol, dated 1714, in the Paris Museum; and a bass dated 1720. His name is often branded on his instruments.
    3. Besler, Norbert. See "Bedler."
    4. Betts, John Edward, known as "Old John Betts," b. 1755, at Stamford, Lincolnshire; d. March, 1823, was buried at Cripplegate Church. Pupil of Richard Duke, senior, in London. He made few instruments; the sound-holes are rather wide, the purfling broad, and the scrolls well cut; but he had great knowledge of Italian instruments. Clever workmen, such as the Panormos, Bernhard Fendt, his nephew Edward, and John Carter were employed by him, principally to copy old English and Italian instruments. Label: "Jo. Betts, No. 2, near Northgate, the Royal Exchange, London, 1782." He advertised that he "makes in the neatest manner, violins the patterns of Ant. Stradivarius, Hieronymus Amatus, Jacobus Stainer, and Tyrols. Equal for the fine, full, mellow tone to those made in Cremona."
    5. Betts (Ned), Edward, nephew of John Betts, like him a pupil of Richard Duke. He died before his uncle, probably between 1815 and 1820. He was a good maker, his instruments had a powerful tone, and all the work most carefully finished. He made very good copies of older makers, more especially of N. Amati. Other members of this family were not violin makers themselves though they continued the business as dealers.

  2. A dictionary of violin makers (n.d.)

    Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol …

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    1. Bertolotti, De. See Gasparo da Salò.
    2. Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol dated 1687; another with the label "Nicolas Bertrand, Paris, 1720," well made, with a thick red varnish; a treble-viol dated 1701 in the Brussels Museum; a small five-stringed viol, dated 1714 in the Paris Museum; and a bass dated 1720. His name is often branded on his instruments.
    3. Besler, Norbert. See "Bedler."
    4. Betts, John Edward, known as "Old John Betts," b. 1755, at Stamford, Lincolnshire; d. March, 1823, was buried at Cripplegate Church. Pupil of Richard Duke, senior, in London. He made few instruments; the sound-holes are rather wide, the purfling broad, and the scrolls well cut; but he had great knowledge of Italian instruments. Clever workmen, such as the Panormos, Bernhard Fendt, his nephew Edward, and John Carter were employed by him, principally to copy old English and Italian instruments. Label: "Jo. Betts, No. 2, near Northgate, the Royal Exchange, London, 1782." He advertised that he "makes in the neatest manner, violins the patterns of Ant. Stradivarius, Hieronymus Amatus, Jacobus Stainer, and Tyrols. Equal for the fine, full, mellow tone to those made in Cremona."
    5. Betts (Ned), Edward, nephew of John Betts, like him a pupil of Richard Duke. He died before his uncle, probably between 1815 and 1820. He was a good maker, his instruments had a powerful tone, and all the work most carefully finished. He made very good copies of older makers, more especially of N. Amati. Other members of this family were not violin makers themselves though they continued the business as dealers.

  3. The violin: its famous makers and their imitators (1884)

    BERTRAND, Nicolas, Paris, about 1700 to 1735, used varnish of a superior kind. He made many Viols of the type common in France, for some time …

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    1. BERTRAND, Nicolas, Paris, about 1700 to 1735, used varnish of a superior kind. He made many Viols of the type common in France, for some time after the Violin had been introduced; they were named Dessus-de-Viole, Par-dessus, Quinton, and Vièle-haut-contre. His name is often seen branded on the backs of his instruments inside.
    3. BOIVIN, Claude, about 1749, Paris, M. Chouquet in his Catalogue Raisonné of the instruments at the Paris Conservatoire, describes a Guitar by this maker, made for a daughter of Louis XV.
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  1. Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904)

    Bertrand, Nicolas. — Paris. 1687. 1735.

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    1. drei Jahren seines Lebens siebzehn Geigen gemacht haben, die er den Gästen seines Herrn zu verkaufen pflegte.
    3. Bertrand, Nicolas. — Paris. 1687. 1735.
    4. Er arbeitete handwerksmäßig; nur manchmal kam er Jacques Boquay nahe. Sein Lack ist fast immer rissig und stumpf und gewöhnlich von rother Farbe. Violinen scheint er nur selten gemacht zu haben, dagegen trifft man Violen, Bässe und Quintone von ihm mehrfach. Das Selhof'sche Versteigerungsverzeichniss (Haag 1759) führt eine Arbeit von ihm mit der Jahreszahl 1603 auf; diese kann nur 1703 oder höchstens 1693 geheissen haben, oder man müsste einen gleichnamigen Vorfahren annehmen. Ein Quinton und eine Bassviola (Gamba) von gewöhnlicher Arbeit, rothem, schmierigem Lack und mit einem Frauenköpfchen am Wirbelkasten besitzt das Brüsseler Conservatorium (No. 222 und 227). Ausser seinem Zettel verwandte er auch eine Brandmarke mit seinem Namen.
    6. Bertucci. D. Giuseppe. — Mont-Orsello. 1748. 1777.

  2. An encyclopedia of the violin (1925)

    BERTRAND, NICOLAS, Paris, 1687 to 1735.

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    1. he surpassed all his predecessors and soon became head of the Brescian school. His instruments were first of a beautiful amber color, but in time have taken on a much darker tone. Only a very few of his instruments are in existence at the present time. The label used by di Salo is reproduced on Plate 8.
    3. BERTRAND, NICOLAS, Paris, 1687 to 1735.
    4. BESSARD, LOUIS, Paris, 1753.
    5. BETTS, EDWARD, London, b. Stamford (?), d. about 1815 or 1820.
    6. BETTS, JOHN EDWARD (OLD JOHN BETTS), London, b. 1755, d. 1823. Betts was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, and was a scholar of Richard Duke. He was better known as a dealer and connoisseur than a violin maker. The instruments which bear his name were mostly made by his sons and nephews who were working for him. His successor in the business was his brother Arthur. One of his instruments is at present owned by T. W. Japhouse. Betts is also famous for having first purchased a Stradivarius for twenty shillings ($5) which was recently sold for $60,000.

  3. An encyclopedia of the violin (n.d.)

    Bertrand, Nicolas, Paris, 1687 to 1735.

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    1. he surpassed all his predecessors and soon became head of the Brescian school. His instruments were first of a beautiful amber color, but in time have taken on a much darker tone. Only a very few of his instruments are in existence at the present time. The label used by di Salo is reproduced on Plate 8.
    3. Bertrand, Nicolas, Paris, 1687 to 1735.
    4. Bessard, Louis, Paris, 1753.
    5. Betts, Edward, London, b. Stamford (?), d. about 1815 or 1820.
    6. Betts, John Edward (Old John Betts), London, b. 1755, d. 1823. Betts was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, and was a scholar of Richard Duke. He was better known as a dealer and connoisseur than a violin maker. The instruments which bear his name were mostly made by his sons and nephews who were working for him. His successor in the business was his brother Arthur. One of his instruments is at present owned by T. W. Japhouse. Betts is also famous for having first purchased a Stradivarius for twenty shillings ($5) which was recently sold for $60,000.

Named in 6 books printed between 1884 and 1925. Read by software from scans of those pages, not yet checked by a person against the page. Entries from 6 books stand under this name, and the software judged them likely the same person. Tell us if that is wrong and we will split the record.

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Details and sources

Record note

One or more sources name this maker, and this record states only that: A dictionary of violin makers (1890); A dictionary of violin makers (1890); A dictionary of violin makers (1896); An encyclopedia of the violin (1925); An encyclopedia of the violin (1925); An Encyclopedia of the Violin (1926); Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904); The violin: its famous makers and their imitators (1884). Entries from 6 books stand under this name, and the software judged them likely the same person. Tell us if that is wrong and we will split the record. Beyond what is printed there, nothing on this site confirms this record and no claim has been invented — not established, and we want to hear from you if you can change it.

What the books say

Places and dates of work
Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol … reported1
Places and dates of work
Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol … reported1
Places and dates of work
Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol … reported1
Places and dates of work
BERTRAND, NICOLAS, Paris, 1687 to 1735. reported1
Places and dates of work
Bertrand, Nicolas, Paris, 1687 to 1735. reported1
Places and dates of work
BERTRAND, NICOLAS, Paris, 1687 to 1735. reported1
Places and dates of work
Bertrand, Nicolas. — Paris. 1687. 1735. reported1
Places and dates of work
BERTRAND, Nicolas, Paris, about 1700 to 1735, used varnish of a superior kind. He made many Viols of the type common in France, for some time … reported1

How the pages were read

8 of the 8 lines here were read from machine text (software that turns a photo of a page into words), not by a person looking at the page image. 3 of them rest on a section heading above a list of names, not on a trade word printed on their own line: “A DICTIONARY OF VIOLIN MAKERS.”, “VIOLIN MAKERS IN EUROPE”, “SECTION XII.—ENGLISH MAKERS.”.

Notes

  1. Read from machine text (software that turns a photo of a page into words, or a typed transcription), not by a person looking at the page image. ↩

The books behind this record

This record draws on 6 sources. Each is listed below with how it was read, because a claim read from a photo of the page is stronger than one read from machine text.

  1. Stainer, C. (Cecie), 1867-1937, A dictionary of violin makers (London: Novello, n.d.). archive.org, dictionaryofviol00stai. https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofviol00stai.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  2. Stainer, C. (Cecie), 1867-1937, A dictionary of violin makers (London: Novello, n.d.). archive.org, dictionaryofviol1899stai. https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofviol1899stai.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  3. Stainer, C. (Cecie), 1867-1937, A dictionary of violin makers (London ; New York: Novello, Ewer, 1896). archive.org, dictionaryofviol00stai_0. https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofviol00stai_0.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  4. Alberto Bachmann, An encyclopedia of the violin (1925). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000albe_h3k7. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000albe_h3k7.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  5. Bachmann, Alberto and Ysaye, Eugene, An encyclopedia of the violin (New York, Da Capo Press, n.d.). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000bach_r6r5. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000bach_r6r5.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  6. Alberto Bachmann, An Encyclopedia of the Violin (1925). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000albe_u1d5. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000albe_u1d5.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  7. Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904). archive.org, diegeigenundlau00vongoog. https://archive.org/details/diegeigenundlau00vongoog.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  8. Hart, George, 1839-1891, The violin: its famous makers and their imitators (London, Dulau and co. [etc.], 1884). archive.org, violinitsfamousm84hart. https://archive.org/details/violinitsfamousm84hart.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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