Thomas Hardie

History

Thomas Hardie (1803-1856) was the son, pupil, and assistant of Matthew Hardie. He began working independently from 1826 at 15 Shakespeare Square, Edinburgh, and later from 1837 at 79 High Street, with various other addresses following. Like his father, he faced difficulties in maintaining a steady existence. Between 1847 and 1851, he received support from William Yoole, who provided his own workshop, leading to the recording of eleven collaborative instruments. He is thinly disguised as 'Thomas Harvie' in Charles Reade's novel Christie Johnson (1853). Sources contain conflicting information about his death date; John Dilworth and George Hart state he died in 1856, with Dilworth specifying after falling down stairs near his final residence at 5 Advocate's Close. William Meredith Morris, however, reports his death on January 19, 1858, due to an accident while intoxicated, and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also attributes his death to a fall down stairs while drunk.

Craft

• Workmanship: His work reflects that of his father, and the workmanship is described as beautiful and faultless by William Meredith Morris. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that the execution and varnish are often better in his instruments compared to his father's.
• Models: His instruments are mostly Stradivari-based, though at least one viola shows recognizably Guarnarian characteristics. He retained his father's model.
• Specific Instruments: Violas, mostly dating from 1828-1856, are considered very fine, as are the distinguished Lockey Hill-like cellos.
• Tone and Materials: William Meredith Morris notes that despite beautiful workmanship, the tone of his violins was very inferior, attributing this to artificial seasoning of the wood. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also states that he dried wood in a baking oven, causing his violins, which sounded good when new, to now have little tone.
• Labels: Examples include 'Thomas Hardie / fecit Edinburgh / anno 1846', 'Thomas Hardie / fecit Edinburghie. Anno 1828 [Rattray]', and 'THOMAS HARDIE, FECIT, EDINBURGH, ANNO 1850'.

Influence

• Training: He was the son, pupil, and assistant of Matthew Hardie.
• Collaborations: He collaborated with William Yoole between 1847 and 1851, producing eleven recorded instruments together.

Legacy

• Reputation: His work is highly regarded.
• Literary Portrayal: He appears thinly disguised as 'Thomas Harvie' in Charles Reade's novel Christie Johnson (1853).
• Critical Reception: His work received high praise from Charles Reade, though William Meredith Morris could not endorse Reade's sentiments regarding Thomas Hardie's tone, finding it inferior and comparing it to a common factory fiddle.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: He worked independently from 1826 at 15 Shakespeare Square, Edinburgh, and from 1837 at 79 High Street, with various other addresses following.

Summary

Thomas Hardie (1803-1856) was an Edinburgh-based violin maker, the son and pupil of Matthew Hardie. He worked independently from 1826, facing financial difficulties and collaborating with William Yoole. His instruments, mostly Stradivari-based, are noted for their beautiful workmanship, particularly his violas and cellos, though his practice of artificially seasoning wood often resulted in inferior tone. He is mentioned in Charles Reade's novel Christie Johnson and died after a fall, with sources providing conflicting death dates of 1856 or 1858.