Books › British Violin Makers: A Biographical Dictionary of British Makers of Stringed Instruments and Bows and a Critical Description of Their Work, 1920 › scan 205
Scan 205
British Violin Makers: A Biographical Dictionary of British Makers of Stringed Instruments and Bows and a Critical Description of Their Work, 1920
12 lines. Read by computer on 29 August 2026. Printed page 165. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1excellend. Mr. Honeyman in his Scottish Violin Makers remarks that "Hardie's best work will bear comparison with that of any living Scottish maker," and further that Hardie "has the rare power of producing violins which have a large and telling tone," and that "the mantle of Matthew Hardie has fallen upon his shoulders," and I thoroughly agree with him. According to the strictest account Hardie has made in all well over two thousand instruments, including violins, violas, 'cellos, and basses. About two hundred of these are of the best material and in his best style. The models are Stradivari, Guarneri, and Maggini. He has a decided preference for the Maggini model, and as far as my experience of his work goes, nearly all his best instruments are on that model. These are double purfled, and in some instances ornamented on the back as well.
3One or two of his sons have assisted him from time to time with certain minor parts of the work, but not one of them is actually a maker. Mr. William Hardie made one violin some years ago, but he never took the tools in hand again. The varnish is of his own make, and has fossil amber for its basis: it is of two colours, golden amber, and golden red.
5He has exhibited instruments on several occasions. At the Edinburgh International Exhibition, 1886, he gained a bronze medal; at the Glasgow Exhibition, 1886-7, an honourable mention; and at the International Exhibition, Edinburgh, 1890, a gold medal. Facsimile label:—
7MADE BY
8James Hardie & Sons,
9VIOLIN MAKERS,
10Edinburgh.
111898.
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