Mark William Dearlove

John Dilworth

DEARLOVE, Mark William Born 1803, died 1880 Leeds UK. Son and pupil of Mark Dearlove, above. Took over his father’s workshop in Boar Lane in 1828, but by 1838 had entered a brief partnership with John Charles Fryer and the address of ‘Dearlove and Fryer’ is given as Benson’s Yard, 23 Boar Lane. By 1845 Dearlove was the sole name at 27 Black Swan Yard, and in 1861 he is recorded at 156 North Street. Other addresses for Dearlove alone are found on various trade advertisements and business cards: 11 George & Dragon Yard 1830, 18 Wheatsheaf Yard, Briggate 1839, 63 George Street 1842-45, and 4 Nelson Street 1853-58. At various times he employed Absam (who may also have worked for Dearlove senior) and Gough. Entered the 1851 and 1862 Great Exhibitions in London. For the 1851 event he made a miniature quartet. The contents of his shop were on display at the Abbey House museum in Leeds until 1998, but are now housed in the museum store along with some instruments, including the 14” (35.5cm) long double bass from the 1851 miniature quartet. Mark William had 12 children who all became noted musicians in the Yorkshire region, mostly as flautists. Instruments are of a more classical mien than his father’s, but generally with a lacklustre yellow varnish. Cellos especially valued. Brand: ‘Dearlove, maker, Leeds’ Mark William Dearlove / Violin Maker. Leeds. / Exhibitor at the Great London Exhibitions 1851 and 1862. Dearlove and Fryer / Musical Instrument Manufacturers / Boar Lane. Leeds 1828

William Meredith Morris

Dearlove employed others to work for him, such as Gough, Absam, Fryer, &c. The last named he eventually took into partnership with him, and the instruments which bear their joint-label are fairly well made, on various models, but mostly on the Strad, with a round, stinging tone. One instrument of theirs which I tried some years ago had a clear and penetrating tone, with much of the characteristics of the Stainer tone about it. Label : —

DEARLOVE AND FRYER, MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MANUFACTURERS, BOAR LANE, LEEDS, 1836

Cecie Stainer

Son of Mark Dearlove. At different times he employed Thomas Absam, John Gough, and Charles Fryer to work for him. The latter he took into partnership. The label they used was: “Dearlove and Fryer, musical instrument manufacturers. Boar Lane, Leeds, 1828.’ Dearlove exhibited two violins and a viola in London in 1862.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

Sohn und Schüler von Mark D. Er verstand es, das väterliche Geschäft in die Höhe
zu bringen, und beschäftigte viele, später angesehene Geigenmacher, so Absam, Gough
und auch John Fryer, mit dem er sich um 1828 verband. — Seine Violoncelli sind recht gut.