John King Monk

History

John King Monk (1846-Unknown) was born on January 22, 1846, in Merton, Surrey, UK. He was a direct descendant of General Monk, a figure of Commonwealth fame. In his youth, he received his initial instruction in violin making from Batho and further developed his skills independently through the study of theoretical works. In 1886, he crafted his first violin, basing it on the principles established by Otto. Monk initially settled in Merton S.W. before relocating to Lewisham S.E. His biography was published by Meredith-Morris in The Strad in 1899, No. 113.

Craft

• Model & Design: Monk worked on the Stradivari model, though he slightly modified the outline, making the corners fuller and more prominent. He also considerably modified the sound-holes, which, while possessing character, led some to wish he had adhered more closely to the classical prototype. After initially imitating the Stradivari model, he later altered the outlines and F-holes according to his own calculations.
• Workmanship: Sources describe his work as decent and Stradivari-derived. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes his workmanship as 'ungemein sauber und künstlerisch' (extremely clean and artistic), while William Meredith Morris suggests he was capable of better than he sometimes achieved.
• Materials: He utilized various sorts of good quality wood. He sourced maple and sycamore slabs, some of which had aged for generations, from Shoreditch cabinet-makers' stores. The pine he used was obtained from an old warehouse at the foot of London Bridge, originally built in 1830, which was taken down in 1886-87. John Dilworth notes his use of fine materials.
• Varnish: Monk employed an oil varnish of various colors, ranging from deep red to golden yellow or pale yellow to golden-red tint. It was perfectly transparent and fairly brilliant, and he composed it himself.
• Innovation: He is credited as the inventor of the triple bar system, which he applied to worn-out old instruments and inexpensive modern factory fiddles. This system involves using three bass bars instead of the customary single one, placed in arithmetical progression under the bridge. John Dilworth mentions some of his output being 'afflicted by 'innovative' bass bar arrangements and other ideas.'
• Output: He made ninety violins and a few violas according to Morris, while Lütgendorff states he made over 100 violins and repaired numerous instruments. Dilworth characterizes his output as small.

Influence

• Mentorship: He received his initial instruction in violin making from Batho.
• Self-Study: Monk further developed his skills independently through the study of theoretical works.
• Foundational Principles: He made his first violin in 1886 based on the principles established by Otto.

Further Information

• Wood Usage: He utilized almost all the pine secured from the London Bridge warehouse, with the exception of some odd pieces and two small blocks sufficient for two bellies.
• Locations: He first settled in Merton S.W. and later moved to Lewisham S.E.
• Musical Compositions: Monk was also a skilled musician and composed a number of appealing musical pieces.
• Label Example: An example label reads: 'J. K. Monk Maker / Merton. Surrey S W / No.70 1889'.

Summary

John King Monk (b. 1846) was a British violin maker known for his Stradivari-derived work, which incorporated his own modifications to outlines and F-holes. He received initial training from Batho and was self-taught through theoretical studies, crafting his first violin in 1886 based on Otto's principles. Monk utilized fine materials, including aged maple, sycamore, and pine from historical London structures, and applied his self-composed oil varnish. He is particularly noted for his innovative triple bass bar system, which he applied to instruments. He produced over ninety violins and some violas, settling in Merton and later Lewisham.