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Scan 149
British Violin Makers: A Biographical Dictionary of British Makers of Stringed Instruments and Bows and a Critical Description of Their Work, 1920
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1The Chanots have a lineage reaching back to the middle of the eighteenth century, probably earlier, for there was one of that name, an instrument maker, living and working in Vignon, Provence, towards the end of the seventeenth century, who may not unreasonably be supposed to have some connection with the Chanots of Mirecourt of a generation or two later. François Chanot, who was born at Mirecourt in 1788, was the first to experiment scientifically with the view of learning something of the acoustics of the violin, and he it was that paved the way for the researches of Dr. Felix Savart. Georges Chanot, of Paris, grandfather of the present Chanot of Manchester, and of London, was a maker, expert, and dealer of European repute. His instruments are rising in value annually, and will probably reach a considerable figure in the future. Obviously, the Chanot tradition is of some importance to the student of violin literature, and to neglect it is to leave out one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of violin progress in this country. For, be it remembered, the Chanots have exerted an influence upon other violin makers of their time to an extent which is not, perhaps, realized by the rising generation of professional and amateur makers. To begin with, they were the trainers of quite a number of men who became first-class artists, but of more importance still is the indirect yet wider influence they wielded through their work. For a considerable slice of the second half of last century, Georges Chanot was almost the only really first-class and properly trained violin maker in this country. William Elsworth Hill and George Hart (senior) made few new instruments, and there were only the Withers (father and sons) and some two or three besides. Chanot came to London to work under Maucotel in 1851, full of enthusiasm for his art; in 1858 he started business on his own account, and it was not long before he was recognized as facile princeps of the small band of fiddle makers in this country. For many years before he became a dealer of some importance he was a maker of really great importance. His new fiddles
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