Scan 245
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Basses of the Gaspard di Salo form, the varnish of which is superior to that of his Violins. He made also an excellent quartett of instruments—Violin, Viola, Violoncello, and Double-Bass, for the Exhibition of 1851, they were certainly the best contemporary instruments exhibited, but he failed to obtain the prize medal.
3FENDT, Martin, London, born in 1812. Brother of the above. Worked for Betts.
5FENDT, Jacob, London, born 1815, died 1849. Third son of Bernard Fendt. The best maker among the sons of Bernard. His instruments are beautifully finished, and free from the stereotyped character belonging to those of his brother Bernard. As specimens of the imitator's art they are unequalled. One cannot but regret that such a consummate workman should have been obliged to waste his energies in making new work resemble that of a hundred years before. The patronage that he obtained was not of much value, but had he brought his work into the market in its natural condition he would not have lived by his trade. He was, therefore, compelled to foster that which he no doubt felt to be degrading. The copies of Stradivarius by Jacob Fendt are among his best efforts. The work is well done; the discoloration of the wood cleverly managed, the effects of wear counterfeited with greater skill than was ever done before or since, and finally, an amount of style is thrown into the work which transcends the ingenuity of any
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