Amati > Makers Archive > Richard (I) Duke

Richard (I) Duke

Highest auction price

£18,000

Auction price history
Type Details Sold Price
Violin 35.5 cm [Attributed to] Wed 1st June 2011 £2,400
Violin 36.4 cm [Possibly by] Wed 1st December 2010 £960
Cello 74.0 cm Wed 1st December 2010 £18,000
Violin 35.5 cm London, 1770 c. Mon 1st March 2010 £15,000
Violin 35.4 cm 1760 c. Tue 1st December 2009 £782
Viola 37.6 cm London, 1760 c. (restorations) Mon 1st June 2009 £1,560
Violin 35.6 cm London, 1750 c. Sat 1st March 2008 £5,520
Violin 35.6 cm 1758 [Attributed to] Sun 1st July 2007 £4,320
Violin London, 1767 Sun 1st October 2006 £3,474
Violin London, 1764 Fri 1st July 2005 £2,400
Violin London, 1760 c. Fri 1st April 2005 £3,008
Viola 38.9 cm London, 1760 [Duke Sr.] Mon 1st November 2004 £3,840
Violin [Attributed to] Sat 1st May 2004 £2,091
Violin 7/8 Size. original neck (repairs) Sun 1st February 2004 £977
Violin 1760 c. Wed 1st October 2003 £1,696
Violin 17-- Thu 1st March 2001 £1,012
Viola 37.8 cm 17-- Sun 1st November 1998 £2,185
Violin 17-- Sun 1st November 1998 £2,990
Violin Sun 1st November 1998 £901
Violin 1756 Thu 1st October 1998 £2,530
Viola 37.8 cm 17-- Sat 1st November 1997 £1,150
Viola 37.5 cm 17-- Thu 1st May 1997 £1,800
Violin 1756 Thu 1st May 1997 £3,600
Violin 1761 Sat 1st March 1997 £2,645
Violin 17-- Fri 1st March 1996 £4,025
Violin 17-- Wed 1st November 1995 £3,680
Violin 17-- Wed 1st November 1995 £920
Violin 1760 Wed 1st November 1995 £4,025
Violin 1763 Sun 1st October 1995 £1,380
Violin 1760 Tue 1st August 1995 £1,092
Violin 1760 Tue 1st November 1994 £1,867
Violin 17-- Sat 1st October 1994 £1,265
Violin 17-- Wed 1st June 1994 £4,025
Violin 1761 Mon 1st November 1993 £2,300
Viola 40.8 cm 17-- Fri 1st October 1993 £1,150
Violin 1756 3/4 Size Fri 1st November 1991 £2,420
Cello 1760 c. Thu 1st March 1990 £1,760
Viola 37.8 cm 17-- Tue 1st November 1988 £1,980
Viola 37.8 cm 17-- Wed 1st June 1988 £1,870
Viola 37.9 cm 1750-99 Fri 1st October 1982 £1,165
Biographies

John Dilworth

DUKE, Richard (I) Born 1718, died 1783 London UK. A prolific maker, entrepreneur, and shopkeeper, Duke is one of the definitive makers of 18th century London. Unfortunately his brand has been ill-used by commercial operations to upgrade many inferior instruments which has done harm to his reputation. He may have been initiated into the business by Daniel Wright who worked in Holborn and gave an apprenticeship to John Johnson. There is also a label extant stating ‘William Duke / Holborn Bars / London 1727’ which may be the work of his father. Richard’s workshop was first established in Lamb’s Conduit Passage by 1743. In 1757 he could be found at ‘Red Lyon Street near Graye’s Inn Passage’ and in 1760 at Great Turnstile, Holborn. He enjoyed the patronage of the Dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester, and advertised all sorts of musical instruments and services, venturing into the publishing of sheet music with Henry Thorowgood in 1760. He employed many workers, including John Carter, Ned Betts, Isaac Nayler, William Napier, and John Vogler; but the most important was John Betts who took over the business from Duke’s daughter Anne. His output covers a variety of forms, mostly in the then-current London style of Stainer, but some are obviously modelled on Amati, and rare examples follow a ‘long pattern’ Stradivari violin; a very early exploration of this model. Workmanship is variable. The cheapest instruments carry a very dull thin brown varnish, but others have a vibrant red-brown coating. Violas and cellos are very rare, and a few round-backed double basses are also recorded. Most are branded: ‘Duke. London’; this brand is widely imitated on cheap Saxon instruments. Genuine examples usually carry a pencilled signature on the inner surface of the front. Printed labels: Richard Duke / Londini. fecit 1760 Richard Duke, Maker / Holborn, London. Anno 1768 Richard Duke, Maker / near opposite Great Turn-Stile / Holborn. London

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