Amati > Makers Archive > P > James Preston

James Preston

London, worked 1724–1770

Established at 9 Banbury Court, Long Acre and the Strand 1724-1770. Presumed to have been a dealer and tradesman rather than a maker. Decent London trade work bears his label: coarse work and cheap materials with dark red-brown varnish. Some better cellos; also guitars. — John Dilworth

Worked London
Made Cello, Violin
Cello by James Preston, London, 18th Century
Violin by James Preston. Sold by Amati — from the archive.

Instruments

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£9,600

18 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
CelloBearing an original label Preston maker No 97 Strand crossed through, very fine state of preservation Lot 148Brompton’sOctober 2014£9,600est. £ 8,000-12,000
Violin35.6 cm London, 1750 c.January 2009£540
Violin35.6 cmJanuary 2009£312
CelloLondon, 1800 c. Attributed toJanuary 2005£4,200
ViolinLondon, 1760 c. Baroque (repairs)January 2004£428
ViolinLondon Original neck (many cracks)January 2004£290
Violin1800 c.January 2003£1,200
Violin1750 c.January 1997£805
Cello17--January 1994£1,980
Cello17--January 1994£3,300
Cello1780January 1991£5,720
Cello1760 c.January 1990£1,705
Violin1760 c.January 1989£1,540
Violin1750-75January 1989£1,980
Violin17--January 1986£198
Cello1760 c.January 1986£1,078
Cello1750 c.January 1986£2,860
Violin1750 c.January 1985£605

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

PRESTON, James Worked circa. 1724-1770 London UK. Established at 9 Banbury Court, Long Acre and the Strand 1724-1770. Presumed to have been a dealer and tradesman rather than a maker. Decent London trade work bears his label: coarse work and cheap materials with dark red-brown varnish. Some better cellos; also guitars. Labels both manuscript and printed: Preston, maker / 97 Strand, London

Cecie Stainer+

A maker in London about 1724. In a guitar of small size was the label: ” Preston, maker, London.”

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Er wohnte Strand No. 97. Seine Arbeit ist namentlich bei Geigen sehr mittelmässig; auch zum Boden nahm er Tannenholz und verwandte rothbraunen Spirituslack. Eine kleine Guitarre von ihm besass Snoeck. Ob der Londoner Preston mit dem in York identisch war, steht nicht fest, ist aber wahrscheinlich. In London hat er sich zuletzt nur mehr auf den Handel verlegt und in fremde Arbeiten seinen Zettel geklebt.

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