John Furber

John Dilworth

FURBER, John Born 1780, d. after 1857 Clerkenwell, London UK. Brother of Matthew Furber (II), below, working in Turnmill Street 1810 and 10 St John’s Row from 1813. In 1840 he moved to 26 Wellington Street. Credited with most of the instruments sold and labelled by Betts in this period. A considerable and versatile craftsman. Copyist of Stradivari and Amati. Some examples branded below back button: ‘Furber’ John Furber. Maker / 13 St.John’s Row, top of Brick Lane / Old Saint Luke / 1813 John Furber, maker / 10 St John’s Row, Brick Lane, / Old Street John Furber, Maker / 77 Turnmill Street / Clerkenwell / 1810 [BVMA]

William Meredith Morris

He was the third son of Matthew Furber, sen., and a pupil of his father and John Betts. He made a large number of instruments on the grand Amati pattern, and some copies of the ” Betts ” Stradivari, when that famous masterpiece was in the possession of Betts. His work is excellent in every respect. I quite recently saw one of these copies, and I must say that I considered it a superb example of the copyist’s art. The wood of the back was of a broad ” flame,” with the curl slanting nearly at right angles to the longitudinal axis in the direction of the lower end of the instrument. The varnish was golden red, mellow, tender, and not too thickly laid on. The tone was clear and penetrating, and very fine on the two inner strings. The only part of the work which might be considered to be lacking in depth of feeling was the scroll, which was not quite in the spirit of the master, being somewhat stiff and over masculine. His Amati copies are considerably modified in many instances, and some of them are rather deeply grooved and highly arched, but the tone is almost invariably clear and penetrating. His best violins realise as much as £20 to-day, and they will sell at a still higher figure in years to come. Furber worked for J. Betts at the Royal Exchange, and many of the fine instruments which bear Betts’ label. His own label is:-

JOHN FURBER, MAKER, 13 ST. JOHN’S ROW, TOP OF BRICK LANE, OLD ST., SAINT LUKE, 1839

Cecie Stainer

Third son of Matthew Furber, sen. Pupil of his father, became an excellent workman and clever repairer. Made numerous violins, following the Amati pattern. He also worked for J. K. Betts at the Royal Exchange.
In 1841 he was living in Cow Cross, Smithfield.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

Dritter Sohn von Matthew F. sen. und dessen Schüler. Er ist der bedeutendste aus der Familie, baute zahlreiche gute Geigen, zu denen ihm das Amatimodell als Vorbild diente. Er arbeitete auch bei J. E. Betts und war als Reparateur hochgeschätzt.