Table of Contents

James Findlay

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£345

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	Labelled Made by James Findlay, Policeman, Montrose 1914	September 2024	£317
Violin	1871	September 2001	£345
Violin	1876	October 1991	£165
Violin	1874	March 1987	£132

Maker Overview

History

James Findlay (1815-1896) was born at a farm near Brechin, in Forfarshire, Scotland, and died in Padanaram, Forfarshire, in 1896.

He worked primarily as a weaver throughout his life and was also known as an excellent fiddle player.

Findlay was an active instrument maker from approximately 1829, credited with producing about 500 instruments.

He employed several assistants, including J. Marnie, A. MacNicol, J. Glenday, and William Findlay, who was presumably related to him.

Craft

Models: Many of his violins were copies of a Joseph Guarneri instrument owned by a countryman, while others were based on a Stradivari model in their outlines. He also made copies of an old violin known as 'Black Meg'.
Workmanship: His work is described as slightly coarse, often on a vaguely Neapolitan model.
Soundholes: The F-holes are original in form, with short wings and small lower circles.
Purfling: The inlay is quite broad, and narrow edges are set with broad purfling.
Scrolls/Heads: The scrolls are often made of pear wood, and the head is neatly carved with a broad chin.
Wood: He was careless in his choice of wood, even using old railway sleepers if nothing else was available; his wood is mostly plain.
Varnish: He used a thin spirit varnish of a yellowish-brown color that has darkened considerably, described as a rather intransparent red-brown varnish.
Labels: He used several labels, including handwritten ones like 'JAMES FINDLAY, PADANARAM, 1870', and others that were printed.

Influence

Models Copied: Findlay copied a specific Joseph Guarneri violin owned by a countryman.
Specific Instruments: He also made several copies of an old violin known as 'Black Meg', which was in the possession of a dance master in Farfar.
Design Inspiration: Some of his instruments followed the outlines of a Stradivari model.

Further Information

Workshop Location: His workshop was located in Padanaram, Forfarshire, Scotland.
Instrument Count: He is credited with making approximately 500 instruments.
Materials: He sometimes used old railway sleepers for wood if other materials were scarce.
Playing Ability: He was an excellent violinist himself.

Summary

James Findlay (1815-1896) was a Scottish weaver and accomplished fiddle player from Padanaram, Forfarshire, who became a prolific instrument maker. Active from around 1829, he produced approximately 500 instruments, often copying models by Joseph Guarneri and Stradivari, as well as a distinctive old violin known as 'Black Meg'. His work is characterized by original F-hole designs, broad purfling, and a thin, often dark, spirit varnish, though he was known for his sometimes unconventional choice of wood.

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Biographies

John Dilworth William Meredith Morris Cecie Stainer Willibald Leo Lütgendorff

John Dilworth

FINDLAY, James Born 1815, died 1896 Padanaram, Forfarshire, Scotland UK. Worked as a weaver and also known as a fiddle player. Active maker from c.1829; credited with 500 instruments. Employed several assistants, including J. Marnie, A. MacNicol, J. Glenday, and William Findlay, presumably related. Slightly coarse work on a vaguely Neapolitan model. Soundholes have short wings and small lower circles. Narrow edges are set with broad purfling. Neatly carved head with broad chin. Plain materials with rather intransparent red-brown varnish. James Findlay / Maker / Padanaram 18.. [Rattray]