Violin by James Briggs, Glasgow, 1922
About James Briggs
James Briggs was born in Wakefield in 1855 and was apprenticed to William Tarr of Manchester, a maker who is now particularly known for his double basses. Briggs set up his own workshop in Wakefield in 1876 but business was slow. Things improved when Briggs was awarded a gold medal at the Leeds Exhibition in 1890 and thereafter also received diplomas for his work in Paris and Vienna.
Following these successes, Briggs and his family relocated to Glasgow in 1893. Briggs appears to have chosen Glasgow for business reasons: by this date the great Glaswegian dealer David Laurie was reaching the end of his career. The move was a shrewd decision as the Briggs workshop flourished for over half a century.
We tend to think of his output in two categories: the very inventive straight work and the incredibly well observed copies. His work as a copyist connects Briggs to the work going on in London, Paris and elsewhere, a great reminder that Glasgow was a cosmopolitan commercial city with close links to the international violin world.
Briggs worked up until 1931 and died four years later, leaving his workshop to his son Harry. The workshop continued to trade until 1949.
About the violin
This violin was made in Glasgow in 1922 and is a brilliant Guadagnini copy.
The violin has a two piece back of quarter-sawn maple with ribs and scroll of plainer maple. The front is two pieces of book matched spruce which widens hugely towards the flanks. The varnish is an attractive golden-brown.
The violin has a length of back of 352 mm.
How does it sound?
This is a hugely interesting copy: not only does it look like a Guadagnini, it plays with all of the full-blooded excitement that you'd expect from a Guad too! It's big, bold and characterful: a real solo instrument.
Condition
The violin is in very good condition.
Further information
Please get in touch for more details about this violin after Guadagnini by James Briggs for sale and a member of our team will get back to you.