Henry John Furber

History

Henry John Furber (1809-1891) was born in London, UK, and was the son and pupil of John Furber. He worked for John Betts, making a speciality of copies of the 1704 'Betts' Stradivari violin. He established himself in Grafton Street from 1825, later moving to 50 Britannia Row, Islington, from 1846 to 1864, and then to 79 Dean Street in 1885. Henry John Furber died at 158 Euston Road, aged 82, in 1891. According to the Hill Archive, his tools and part-finished instruments were auctioned at Puttick & Simpsons in 1892. His best work was done for Betts, and was considered worthy of comparison with some of the efforts of the Fendt family, but after the Betts shop closed in 1867, Furber's quality declined rapidly due to alcoholism.

Craft

• Specialization: He made a speciality of copies of the 1704 'Betts' Stradivari violin.
• Models: He produced copies of Stradivari and Amati instruments.
• Varnish: His varnish varied in shades and textures according to the model, ranging from dark red-brown to paler golden-amber.
• Instruments: He made many useful contralto violas, cellos, and double basses.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "H. Furber / Violin, Violoncello and Double Bass Maker / 1876" and "H. Furber / London, 1886", as noted by the BVMA.
• Workmanship: Sources contain conflicting information about the quality of his workmanship; William Meredith Morris stated that he could not "admire either the tone or the workmanship very much" and suggested he may have only seen "third-rate work", while George Hart, Cecie Stainer, and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff praised his work, with Hart noting he "maintained the character for good workmanship".

Influence

• Mentorship: He was the son and pupil of John Furber.
• Employment: He worked for John Betts.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: He was established in Grafton Street from 1825, at 50 Britannia Row, Islington, from 1846 to 1864, and at 79 Dean Street in 1885.
• Posthumous Sale: His tools and part-finished instruments were auctioned at Puttick & Simpsons in 1892.

Summary

Henry John Furber (1809-1891) was a London-based violin maker, son and pupil of John Furber, who worked for John Betts and specialized in copies of Stradivari and Amati instruments. He was known for producing violas, cellos, and double basses, though opinions on his workmanship varied among contemporaries, with some praising his skill and others finding his quality inconsistent, particularly after 1867 due to alcoholism.