Violin by Thomas Hardie, Edinburgh, circa 1850

About Thomas Hardie

Thomas Hardie was born in Edinburgh in 1803, the son of the violin maker Matthew Hardie. He learned his craft with his father and worked alongside him as an assistant until the latter's death in 1826. Life was not easy for the Hardie family: Thomas was only 23 when his father died and inherited a business that had been much troubled by debt.

Like his father before him, Thomas was considered the leading violin maker in the city despite long periods of financial instability and personal difficulty. In style, the two makers diverge after a time: Thomas's early work continues to develop the long-pattern Stradivari model championed by his father, whereas later his work explores the Guarneri ‘del Gesù' model. Hardie's interpretation of this model became the predominant influence in the city for the next half century.

About the violin

This violin was made in Edinburgh around 1850 and is modelled after the instruments of Guarneri 'del Gesù'.

The violin has a two piece back of quarter-sawn maple, the flame descending from the centre joint. The ribs and scroll are of similar wood and the front is two pieces of characterful local pine. The varnish is the golden tan colour characteristic of Hardie's work.

The violin has a length of back of 358 mm.

How does it sound?

This violin is the kind of instrument we love to make a fuss about as a violin shop in Scotland! It's a superb reminder that Scottish makers like Thomas Hardie were making top quality instruments that compete strongly with their Italian counterparts. The violin has a bold, powerful voice and no upper limits - a fantastic concert instrument!

Condition

The violin is in very good condition, having undergone restoration in our workshop prior to being offered for sale. It retains its original neck, though the proportions have been adjusted for modern playing.

More information

For more options, please view other violins in this price range.