Simon Andrew Forster

History

Simon Andrew Forster (1801-1870) was born in 1801 and died in 1870 in London, UK. He was the son of William Forster (III). He served as a chorister at Westminster Abbey from 1811 to 1817. Simon Andrew Forster established his business first in Frith Street, Soho, and later moved to Macclesfield Street, Soho. He co-authored The History of the Violin with S. A. Sandys, published in 1864, a work that contains significant details about the Forster family. His instruments are dated from 1828 to 1840. George Pearce assisted him from 1834 to 1844.

Craft

• Models and Arching: Instruments were made on the Stainer model with softened arching curves, according to John Dilworth. William Meredith Morris states that he sometimes worked on the Stradivari model and sometimes on the Stainer, but always arched his instruments in a grotesque manner. Cecie Stainer also noted his instruments were "very much arched."
• Classes of Instruments: Simon Andrew Forster produced instruments in two distinct classes. The better class was highly finished and covered with a good orange-amber varnish. Cheaper instruments were made with an inferior spirit varnish, an unsuccessful attempt to compete with the large number of similar instruments being imported from Germany at the time.
• Awards and Recognition: His violin, viola, and cello were awarded prizes at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London.
• Notable Surviving Instruments: Viola no.7, made in 1843, is housed in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. He also made fine double basses.
• Labeling: Instruments were numbered and inscribed at the endpin with "S. A. Forster / Violin, Tenor, and Violoncello maker / No.. London." For his second-class instruments, he used spirit varnish and inscribed them only "Foster, No. ," at the tailpin.

Influence

• Mentorship: Simon Andrew Forster was a pupil of his father, William Forster (III). He also studied under Samuel Gilkes, who worked as an assistant for his father. William Meredith Morris also notes that he was a pupil of his brother.

Legacy

• Literary Contribution: He is well-known as the co-author, with S. A. Sandys, of The History of the Violin (1864), a significant historical work that includes much detail about the Forster family.
• Exhibition Success: His instruments, including a violin, viola, and cello, received prizes at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London.
• Museum Collections: A viola (no.7, 1843) made by him is preserved in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Simon Andrew Forster's workshops were located in Frith Street, Soho, and later in Macclesfield Street, Soho, London.
• Label Inscription: His instruments bore the label: "S. A. Forster / Violin, Tenor, and Violoncello maker / No.. London."

Summary

Simon Andrew Forster (1801-1870) was a London-based luthier, son of William Forster (III), and a pupil of his father and Samuel Gilkes. He operated workshops in Frith Street and Macclesfield Street, Soho, producing instruments between 1828 and 1840. Known for making instruments in two classes, including a highly finished better class and cheaper ones with spirit varnish, his work included violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. His instruments received prizes at the 1851 Great Exhibition, and a viola from 1843 is housed in the Ashmolean Museum. Forster is also recognized as the co-author of the influential The History of the Violin (1864).