James Thomson
This violin has now sold.
About James Thomson
This very special violin was made in Balmoral by James Thomson. Balmoral is famously the Aberdeenshire home of the Royal family, having been purchased by Prince Albert in 1852. Thomson is said to have been a groundskeeper for the Balmoral estate as well as a fine amateur fiddle maker.
This violin was made in 1869 and is a successful personal model with a length of back of 358mm. The finely executed f-holes demonstrate that Thomson was a craftsman of some skill. This is the second instrument we have seen by Thomson: the two violins were remarkably similar, again pointing to a skilled craftsman who was able to produce consistent instruments. The violin has a rich, dark sound and is in good condition with its original neck.