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Scan 218
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
2 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 204. See the scan on archive.org.
1Aldred nothing appears to be known. A counter tenor viol, by the other maker mentioned by Mace, "Henry Jay in Southwarke, 1667," was exhibited by Dr. Engel at South Kensington in 1872, and Forster mentions a small violoncello, which had been made down from a larger instrument by this maker, and which bore the date 1615. He describes the work as excellent. There is another example of his make in the museum of the Paris Conservatoire. It is a small bass viol, bearing the date 1624, and is numbered 106 in the museum catalogue. But the first genuine violin maker of whom there appears to be any knowledge was Jocob Rayman, whose work was distinguished by very fine varnish and a clear tone. The form is flat, ill shaped, and not well finished. His date is about 1620, according to Mr. Hart, and Forster gives 1641. The sound holes are after the manner of Stainer, whose model was the favourite one in England for many years. The varnish is yellow brown, tinged with red. Sir John Hawkins praises their quality, and says, "The tenor violins by him are greatly valued, defective purfling, but work generally neat and good." Tickets of his run, "Jacob Rayman dwelling in Blackman-street Long—Southwark 1641," and "JACOB RAYMAN at ye Bell Yard in SOUTHWARKE LONDON 1648." Hawkins says he was alive, and dwelt in Bell Yard, about 1650. Thomas Urquhart—supposed from his name to have been Scotch, as Rayman from his has been thought to be German—appears to have been a splendid workman, as those who have seen his instruments are unanimous in their approval of them. He excelled in his varnish, which is said to be quite
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