Henry John Furber

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	1900 c.	Fri 1st November 2002	£1,527
Viola	41.8 cm 1880	Wed 1st July 1992	£1,540
Cello	1886	Fri 1st June 1990	£5,060
Violin	1886	Mon 1st September 1986	£1,430

John Dilworth

FURBER, Henry John Born 1809, died 1891 London UK. Son and pupil of John Furber, below. Worked for John Betts, making a speciality of copies of the 1704 ‘Betts’ Stradivari violin. Established in Grafton Street from 1825, 50 Britannia Row, Islington 1846-1864, 79 Dean Street 1885. Died at 158 Euston Road, aged 82. Tools and part-finished instruments auctioned at Puttick & Simpsons 1892, according to Hill Archive. Best work done for Betts, and worthy of comparison with some of the efforts of the Fendt family, but after the shop closed in 1867 Furber declined rapidly due to alcoholism. Copies of Stradivari and Amati; varnish of different shades and textures according to model, from dark red-brown to paler golden-amber. Many useful contralto violas, cellos, and double basses. H. Furber / Violin, Violoncello and Double Bass Maker / 1876 H. Furber / London, 1886 [BVMA]

George Hart

Son of John Furber, now living in Grafton Street. He has made several excellent instruments, and maintained the character for good workmanship which has been associated with the name of Furber for upwards of a century.

William Meredith Morris

Pupil of his father, John Furber. He has made many instruments, several of which I have seen and tried. I cannot say that I admire either the tone or the workmanship very much. His work has been much praised in some quarters, and Hart says that he has made some excellent instruments. Some modern makers are much addicted to what may be termed ” class work ” ; i.e., they turn out instruments of various qualities, which they arrange according to merit into class A, B, C, &c. I think this is much to be deprecated. Every artist ought always to be at his best, and, so far as his material will allow, should turn out work of uniform excellence. Perhaps it has been my fortune to see only the third-rate work of this Furber.

Cecie Stainer

Son and pupil of John Furber. He continued the business in Grafton Street, London, and has made many good instruments.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

Sohn und Schüler von John F., dessen Geschäft in der Grafton Street von ihm fortgesetzt wurde. Seine Arbeit ist lobenswerth.

£5,060

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Biographies

John Dilworth

George Hart

William Meredith Morris

Cecie Stainer

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

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