Amati > Makers Archive > C > Lawrence Cocker

Lawrence Cocker

Name: Lawrence Cocker auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Derby, 1908–1982

Self taught. Ingenious and innovative maker of violins and bows. Highly respected and admired by colleagues in English violin trade. Diploma of Honour at The Hague 1949. Began using commercial Millington varnish, but later developed his own cooked copal recipe with a deep rust-brown tint. — John Dilworth

Worked Derby

Made Cello, Cello Bow, Viola, Viola Bow, Violin, Violin Bow

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£3,680

TypeDecade of saleAuction houseCurrency

86 results

Type	Details	Auction house	Sold	Price
Viola Bow	Silver mounted, cane stick octagonal stamped L. Cocker, frog with Paris eye, silver button Lot 3245	Gardiner Houlgate	September 2025	£158est. £ 150-200
Cello Bow	Silver mounted, cane stick octagonal stamped L. Cocker, frog with Paris eye, silver button Lot 3244	Gardiner Houlgate	September 2025	£208est. £ 150-200
Viola	Richardson-Tertis design, one-piece back, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 2414	Gardiner Houlgate	March 2023	£1,891est. £ 500-800
Viola Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker and also stamped Pat Pending Lot 2216	Gardiner Houlgate	September 2022	£384est. £ 200-300
Viola Bow	Silver mounted, cane octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker, ebony frog with Paris eye, silver button Lot 2268	Ingles & Hayday	December 2021	£216
Viola Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal bamboo stick stamped L. Cocker Lot 157	Brompton’s	January 2021	£420est. £ 400-600
Violin	Bearing the original manuscript label Made for Mr C. G. Wheatcroft by Lawrence ... Lot 172	Brompton’s	October 2019	£1,200est. £ 1,200-1,800
Violin Bow	silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker Lot 22	Brompton’s	May 2019	£360est. £ 350-450
Violin Bow	Silver mounted, exotic wood stick signed, horn frog Lot 645	Vichy	March 2019	£236est. € 150
Viola	Tertis model, one-piece back of medium curl, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 2455	Gardiner Houlgate	September 2018	£1,560est. £ 800-1,200
Cello Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver button Lot 1270	Gardiner Houlgate	March 2018	£132est. £ 100-150
Viola Bow	silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker Lot 3	Brompton’s	March 2018	£401est. £ 300-500
Violin	Labelled Laurence Cocker, Derby 1961 Lot 1443	Gardiner Houlgate	December 2017	£1,056est. £ 600-800
Violin Bow	Silver mounted, hexagonal bamboo stick stamped L. Cocker Lot 256	Brompton’s	June 2017	£660est. £ 500-800
Viola Bow	Silver mounted, hexagonal stick stamped L. Cocker Lot 219	Brompton’s	December 2016	£384est. £ 300-500
Viola	Labelled Made by, Lawrence Cocker, Derby 1955, Tertis model no. 25, inscribed to the inside top Lot 37	Tarisio	June 2016	£2,124est. £ 1,800-2,500
Viola	Labelled Laurence Cocker, Derby 1978 Lot 1015	Gardiner Houlgate	March 2015	£960est. £ 500-800
Cello Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker Lot 48	Brompton’s	October 2014	£240est. £ 300-400
Viola	Labelled Made by Lawrence Cocker, Derby, 1956, Tertis Model, No. 29 Lot 76	Tarisio	August 2014	£1,780est. $ 2,500-4,000
Violin Bow	Silver mounted, originally-grafted stick of Bamboo stamped L. Cocker Lot 78	Tarisio	August 2014	£149est. $ 100-150
Viola Bow	Silver mounted, original octagonal bamboo stick, grafted at the head and under the lapping Lot 47	Tarisio	June 2014	£460est. $ 400-600
Viola	Labelled Designed and made by, Lawrence Cocker, Derby, 1968 Lot 67	Tarisio	June 2014	£2,087est. $ 2,500-4,000
Violin	Labelled Lawrence Cocker, Derby, 1940 Lot 278	Tarisio	June 2014	£1,461est. $ 2,500-4,000
Viola	Labelled Lawrence Cocker, Derby, 1960, Tertis Model, No. 41 Lot 44	Tarisio	May 2014	£1,946est. $ 3,000-5,000
Violin Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker, very good throughout Lot 156	Brompton’s	December 2013	£480est. £ 400-600
Viola	Labelled Made by Lawrence Cocker, Derby, 1953, "Tertis model" No. 13 Lot 42	Tarisio	October 2013	£2,360est. £ 2,000-3,000
Viola	Lot 141	Bonhams	August 2013	£1,000
Viola	Tertis model, labelled by the maker, no. 15, craquelled varnish of a red brown colour Lot 141	Bonhams	August 2013	£1,000est. £ 600-800
Violin Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal bamboo shaft stamped L. Cocker Lot 19	Brompton’s	June 2013	£369est. £ 400-600
Violin	Bearing an original label Lot 100	Brompton’s	June 2013	£960est. £ 600-1,000
Cello Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker, ebony frog with pearl eye, silver button Lot 534	Gardiner Houlgate	June 2013	£108est. £ 100-150
Violin Bow	Silver mounted, octagonal stick stamped L. Cocker Lot 266	Brompton’s	March 2012	£384est. £ 200-300
Cello Bow	S/E 76 g.	—	September 2011	£360
Violin Bow	S/E 58 g.	—	December 2010	£54
Violin	35.7 cm Derby, 1951	—	October 2010	£633
Viola	43.0 cm Derby, 1950	—	March 2010	£600
Viola Bow	N/E 66 g.	—	March 2010	£240
Violin Bow	S/E 62 g.	—	June 2009	£204
Violin	35.9 cm Derby, 1948	—	March 2009	£1,440
Violin	35.5 cm 1973	—	June 2008	£372
Violin	35.9 cm Derby, 1950	—	December 2007	£647
Cello Bow	S/E --- also stamped "pat no 903574"	—	September 2007	£264
Viola	42.8 cm Derby, 1955 'Tertis' model	—	May 2007	£2,167
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g. Cane	—	February 2007	£153
Violin	35.4 cm Derby 1973 Sold with cane bow by same maker	—	November 2006	£1,059
Cello Bow	S/E 77 g.	—	February 2005	£179
Viola	43.1 cm Derby, 1950	—	February 2004	£382
Cello Bow	S/E 80 g.	—	November 2003	£353
Violin	1950	—	November 2003	£1,293
Violin Bow	S/E 55 g.	—	July 2003	£115
Viola	43.1 cm 1950	—	September 2001	£431
Viola	42.8 cm 1954	—	March 2001	£1,440
Viola	45.7 cm 1958	—	September 2000	£690
Viola	42.7 cm 1955	—	June 2000	£805
Viola Bow	S/E 68 g.	—	March 1999	£400
Violin	1968	—	November 1998	£1,265
Violin Bow	S/E 63 g.	—	October 1997	£90
Cello Bow	S/E	—	May 1996	£230
Cello	1968	—	February 1996	£3,680
Viola	42.9 cm 1955	—	June 1995	£1,035
Viola	42.1 cm 1971	—	March 1995	£1,840
Viola Bow	S/E 68 g.	—	March 1995	£299
Viola Bow	S/E 69 g.	—	November 1994	£460
Cello Bow	S/E 72 g.	—	August 1994	£322
Viola	42.9 cm 1956	—	June 1994	£862
Cello Bow	S/E 77 g.	—	November 1992	£310
Violin Bow	S/E	—	September 1992	£308
Viola	43.0 cm 1957	—	June 1990	£990
Viola	42.9 cm 1955	—	March 1990	£2,090
Violin	1936	—	November 1989	£330
Viola Bow	S/E 69 g.	—	October 1989	£114
Viola	42.9 cm 1955	—	June 1989	£990
Viola Bow	S/E 67 g.	—	May 1989	£165
Violin Bow	S/E 60 g.	—	April 1989	£220
Viola Bow	S/E 67 g.	—	January 1989	£352
Violin	1836	—	January 1989	£242
Violin Bow	S/E 59 g.	—	September 1988	£110
Viola	43.2 cm 1957	—	January 1988	£600
Violin	1961	—	January 1988	£620
Viola Bow	G/E 72 g.	—	January 1987	£187
Violin	1957	—	October 1986	£440
Violin	1964	—	September 1986	£506
Violin	1973	—	March 1986	£682
Violin	1959	—	March 1986	£660
Violin	1961	—	November 1983	£537
Cello Bow	S/E 75 g.	—	November 1982	£86

Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

COCKER, Lawrence Born 1908, died 1982 Derby UK. Self taught. Ingenious and innovative maker of violins and bows. Highly respected and admired by colleagues in English violin trade. Diploma of Honour at The Hague 1949. Began using commercial Millington varnish, but later developed his own cooked copal recipe with a deep rust-brown tint. Closely involved with Lionel Tertis in developing the ‘Tertis Model’ viola, a large pattern that has not sustained general interest. His violins are very well made, using charming evolutions of classical models. Well-proportioned and attractive instruments. Developed the ‘split cane’ bow, adapting techniques used in the making of fishing rods as an alternative to pernambuco wood. These were much appreciated by students in the time before cheaper composite materials came into widespread use by the end of the 20th century. Manuscript label: Made for Mr – / by / Laurence Cocker / Derby 1949

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