Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

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Scan 17

A dictionary of violin makers

34 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.

1father at Salisbury, probably 1770-80, then moved to London, to 30, Sher- rard Street, Golden Square; went later to [address hidden], Liverpool, where he died and was buried at St. Mary's, Edgehill. Two violins are known of his, one dated 1771, the other 1775, and an alto dated 1778. A violoncello had the label: "Made by Benjn. Banks, No. 30, [address hidden], Golden Square, from Salisbury."
3Banks, James and Henry, fourth and sixth sons of B. Banks (1727-95). Both born in Salisbury, James about 1756, d. June 15, 1831; Henry about 1770, d. Oct. 16, 1830. They were in business together, Henry as a pianoforte tuner and repairer and James as a violin maker; the latter was an excellent workman, followed the same models as his father, used similar varnish, though occasionally the red-colour varnish had more black in it. 1811, they sold their business in [address hidden], Salisbury, and went to Liverpool, to [address hidden] and then to [address hidden], where they died; they were buried in St. Mary's, Edgehill. A number of unfinished instruments in the white wood were found in the cellar of their Liverpool house, and sold in that state. Labels: "James and Henry Banks, Musical Instrument Makers and Music Sellers, Salisbury, 1802"; "James and Henry Banks, Salisbury, 1804." A violoncello made by both of them in 1797 was exhibited in the South Kensington Museum, London, 1872.
5Barbanti, Silva Francesco. A maker in Correggio, 1850.
7Barbey, Guillaume. In Paris about 1717. Maker of a bass-viol with six strings at Brussels.
9Barbieri, Francesco. A maker in Verona, 1695. His violins follow the pattern of Andrea Guarneri.
11Barnes, Robert. Pupil of Thomas Smith at the "Harp and Hautboy" in Piccadilly; a fellow-apprentice was John Norris, with whom he started a business in 1765. No instrument of theirs is known except a violoncello, which was probably made by E. Aireton, but is stamped with their name on the back. They first lived in [address hidden], then [address hidden]. Label: "Made by Norris and Barnes, violin, violoncello, and bow makers to their Majesties, [address hidden], London."
13Barnia, Fedele, b. at Milan; settled in Venice. Probably a pupil of Pietro Guarneri. A small violoncello is known, of accurate proportions, with yellow varnish somewhat transparent, and good tone. Label: "Fedele Barnia, Milanese, fece in Venezia, l'anno 1761"; one dated 1715 was found in a very beautiful theorbo.
15Baroux. Lived in Paris, 1830, at [address hidden]. He was a very able violin bow maker.
17Barrett, John. Worked about 1714-30 at the "Harp and Crown" in Piccadilly, London. A contemporary of Barak Norman and Nathaniel Cross. He made some good instruments on a long and arched pattern, but they all have ink-lines instead of purflé, and the fluting where the ink-lines are is very acute, forming almost the inner half of a circle; the tone of his violins is sweet but not powerful, the wood well selected, the varnish a yellow colour. 1802, they were valued at 6 guineas, later at 8 or 10. A violoncello is mentioned as of beautiful tone. Labels: "John Barrett, at the Harp and Crown in Pickadilly, 1722"; "Made by John Barrett at ye Harp and Crown in Pickadilly, London, 1731."
19Barton. George. Of Elliot Court, Old Bailey, London; d. about 1810.
21Barzellini, Egidius. Maker in Cremona, 1670-1700. Label: "Egidius Barzellini fecit ecolle Amatius Cremonen, 1680."
23Basi, Florianus. A clever maker of mandolines in Bologna, 1756-81. Label: "Florianus Basi, in via S. Mamoli Bonone, fecit 1756."
25Bassiano. Lute maker in Rome, 1666; a theorbo with this date is in the collection of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna.
27Bassot, Joseph. A maker in Paris about 1780 to 1802, at the Quinze-Vingt (1783), then rue Chabanais (1788). He made beautiful violins, with brown varnish, sometimes tinged with red. His earlier instruments, with yellow varnish, are not so well made. Label: "Joseph Bassot, luthier, Paris, 1802."
29Bastogi, Gaetano. Maker of cithers and lutes in Leghorn, 17—.
31Battista of Brescia, about the end of the 15th century. There is a very old "pochette," with the stamp "Baptista Bressano," in the museum of the Liceo filarmonico of Bologna.
33Battista, Giovanni. A maker of guitars and mandolines in Naples, 17—, according to a label in a mandola of fine tone, "Gian Battista, Fabricatore Napoli, anno 17— in S. M. dell' ajuto."

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