Thomas Kennedy
London, 1784–1870
Thomas Kennedy (1784-1870) was a prominent English luthier, son and pupil of John Kennedy, and apprentice to Thomas Powell. He worked for William Forster (III) before establishing his own workshops in London, notably at 16 Princes Street, 16 Nassau Street, and 364 Oxford Street. Kennedy was a prolific maker, known particularly for his cellos, often crafted on a shortened Amati model. His work ranged in quality, from simpler pieces to well-finished examples with fine spirit varnish. He employed notable bow makers and supplied instruments to firms like Goulding, D'Almaine & Co, leaving a significant legacy in English instrument making.
Instruments
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
118 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Tho: Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street London, inscribed Tho Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford ... Lot 97 | Tarisio | October 2025 | £5,100est. £ 6,000-9,000 |
| Cello | Labelled 1815 William Forster, Violin, Violoncello, Tenore, Bow-Maker to their Royal Highnesses the ... Lot 113 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2025 | £28,800est. £ 18,000-25,000 |
| Violin | One-piece back of faint medium curl, varnish of a plum red colour on a golden ground Lot 3416 | Gardiner Houlgate | June 2025 | £6,100est. £ 5,000-7,000 |
| Cello | Unlabelled Lot 10 | Tarisio | January 2024 | £37,400est. £ 30,000-50,000 |
| Cello | Labelled Thos Kennedy, Maker. 364 Oxford Street, London Lot 112 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2023 | £38,400est. £ 25,000-35,000 |
| Cello | Labelled Kennedy, maker, No 16 Nassau St, London, inscribed Tho' Kennedy Maker, 16 Nassau Street ... Lot 21 | Tarisio | October 2022 | £25,719est. € 20.000-30.000 |
| Violin | Labelled T. Kennedy, maker, 16 Nassau-street London, inscribed Thos Kennedy, Maker, Nassau Street ... Lot 138 | Tarisio | June 2021 | £6,000est. £ 5,000-8,000 |
| Cello | Unlabelled, inscribed internally Thos. Kennedy, Maker, 364 Oxford Street, London, 1833, later varnish Lot 146 | Brompton’s | March 2021 | £1,440est. £ 10,000-12,000 |
| Cello | Branded to the button Goulding & Co., London Lot 71 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2020 | £20,400est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Cello | Labelled Thos Kennedy Maker. 365 Oxford Street, London. 1824 Lot 124 | Ingles & Hayday | March 2020 | £18,000est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Cello | Branded by the button Goulding & Co., London Lot 58 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2019 | £16,800est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Cello | Bearing the maker's label, inscribed internally, reglued back center seam Lot 29 | Skinners | June 2019 | £34,056est. $ 30,000-40,000 |
| Small Cello | Bearing the maker's signature to the table and back Lot 105 | Vichy | June 2019 | £34,010est. € 6.000-8.000 |
| Cello | Labelled Thos. Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street, London, inscribed Thos Kennedy Maker, 364 ... Lot 78 | Ingles & Hayday | March 2019 | £21,600est. £ 20,000-30,000 |
| Cello | Labelled Made by Thos Kennedy London 1800 Lot 82 | Ingles & Hayday | March 2019 | £21,600est. £ 18,000-25,000 |
| Cello | Labelled T. Kennedy, maker, Nassau-Street London, inscribed to the inside back Lot 30 | Tarisio | March 2019 | £13,200est. £ 7,000-10,000 |
| Small Cello | Unlabelled, inscribed to the back Tho Kennedy, Maker, 16 Nassau Street, Middlesex Hospital, London Lot 24 | Tarisio | February 2019 | £24,420est. $ 25.000-40.000 |
| Violin | Unlabelled Lot 178 | Brompton’s | March 2017 | £6,000est. £ 7,000-10,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Thos Kennedy, Maker, 364 Oxford Street, London, ink branded Thos Kennedy, Maker, London Lot 181 | Tarisio | February 2017 | £9,462est. $ 15,000-22,000 |
| Cello | Original label, otherwise is an excellent state of preservation Lot 140 | Brompton’s | October 2016 | £36,000est. £ 30,000-40,000 |
| Cello | Unlabelled Lot 118 | Brompton’s | March 2016 | £20,400est. £ 20,000-30,000 |
| Viola | Unlabelled Lot 136 | Brompton’s | November 2015 | £3,600est. £ 3,000-5,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Thos Kennedy Maker, 364 Oxford Street, London, 1831 Lot 17 | Ingles & Hayday | November 2015 | £5,400est. £ 5,000-8,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Thos Kennedy, Maker, 364 Oxford Street, London, inscribed ensuite in the bouts of the back Lot 150 | Ingles & Hayday | November 2015 | £6,000est. £ 6,000-8,000 |
| Viola | Bearing the original label Tho. Kennedy, Maker, 364 Oxford Street, London Lot 146 | Brompton’s | March 2015 | £2,160est. £ 2,000-3,000 |
| Viola | Lot 94 | Bonhams | December 2014 | £5,250 |
| Viola | Labelled Thos Kennedy, Maker, 364 Oxford Street, London, inscribed Thos Kennedy, Maker, 364 ... Lot 74 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2014 | £6,000est. £ 4,000-6,000 |
| Small Cello | After Amati, unlabelled Lot 145 | Brompton’s | October 2014 | £33,600est. £ 30,000-40,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Thos. Kennedy, Maker ..., lightly craquelled varnish of a red brown colour Lot 94 | Bonhams | May 2014 | £5,250est. £ 4,000-6,000 |
| Violin | Signed internally and dated 1830, original neck Lot 55 | Brompton’s | March 2013 | £6,600est. £ 3,000-5,000 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm London, 1842 | — | January 2011 | £7,500 |
| Cello | 73.8 cm London, 1808 | — | January 2011 | £27,500 |
| Viola | 38.6 cm London, 1813 | — | January 2011 | £4,500 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm London, 1815 c. | — | January 2011 | £5,250 |
| Cello | 73.9 cm London, 1820 c. | — | January 2010 | £18,750 |
| Cello | 74 cm London, 1819 | — | January 2010 | £12,500 |
| Viola | 39.2 cm London, 1845 | — | January 2009 | £2,400 |
| Cello | 76.2 cm Early 19th C. Workshop of | — | January 2009 | £7,415 |
| Cello | 74.1 cm London, 1855 c. | — | January 2009 | £8,125 |
| Viola | 41.7 cm 1820, c. Attributed to | — | January 2009 | £7,020 |
| Violin | 35.1 cm London, 1830 c. | — | January 2009 | £5,890 |
| Cello | 73.3 cm England, 1830 c. | — | January 2008 | £11,875 |
| Viola | 39.1 cm London, 1836 | — | January 2008 | £8,400 |
| Cello | 74.1 cm London, 1810 c. | — | January 2007 | £21,600 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm London, 1813 | — | January 2007 | £2,400 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm London, 1831 | — | January 2007 | £4,485 |
| Cello | 73.7 cm London, 1820 c. Attributed to | — | January 2007 | £22,800 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm London, 1806 Possibly by | — | January 2007 | £2,592 |
| Cello | 74.1 cm London, 1820 c. | — | January 2007 | £12,000 |
| Viola | 39.5 cm London, 1800 c. | — | January 2007 | £2,880 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm London, 1846 | — | January 2006 | £7,200 |
| Cello | 73.3 cm Workshop | — | January 2006 | £10,104 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm London, 1806 Possibly by | — | January 2006 | £2,146 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm London, 1831 | — | January 2006 | £4,995 |
| Cello | 74.1 cm London, 1830 c. | — | January 2006 | £11,400 |
| Viola | 39.1 cm London, 1850 c. | — | January 2005 | £2,400 |
| Cello | 1920 c. Workshop | — | January 2005 | £5,021 |
| Cello | 1800 c. | — | January 2005 | £9,600 |
| Cello | London, 1804 | — | January 2005 | £6,000 |
| Viola | 38.3 cm London, 1810 c. | — | January 2005 | £2,880 |
| Violin | London, 1800 c. Ascribed to | — | January 2004 | £6,572 |
| Cello | London, 1810 c. Ascribed to | — | January 2004 | £15,269 |
| Viola | 40.1 cm London, 1820 c. | — | January 2004 | £7,170 |
| Cello | London, 1820 c. | — | January 2004 | £17,925 |
| Violin | London, 1810 c. | — | January 2004 | £8,365 |
| Violin | 1830 | — | January 2003 | £8,400 |
| Cello | 1810 | — | January 2003 | £7,469 |
| Cello | 1835 | — | January 2003 | £8,216 |
| Violin | 1831 | — | January 2003 | £7,800 |
| Violin | 1850 c. | — | January 2002 | £3,774 |
| Cello | 1827 | — | January 2002 | £17,000 |
| Cello | 1846 | — | January 2001 | £17,700 |
| Viola | 39.0 cm 1845 | — | January 2001 | £6,000 |
| Cello | 1830 | — | January 2001 | £12,500 |
| Violin | 1830 | — | January 2001 | £3,220 |
| Cello | 1818 c. | — | January 2000 | £13,800 |
| Cello | 1847 | — | January 2000 | £13,800 |
| Cello | 1814 | — | January 1999 | £13,800 |
| Violin | 1850 | — | January 1999 | £3,860 |
| Cello | 1843 | — | January 1999 | £8,280 |
| Cello | 1823 | — | January 1999 | £18,000 |
| Cello | 1830 | — | January 1998 | £27,600 |
| Violin | 1835 c. | — | January 1998 | £5,175 |
| Cello | 1812 | — | January 1997 | £17,250 |
| Cello | 1833 | — | January 1996 | £16,100 |
| Cello | 1860 | — | January 1996 | £13,800 |
| Cello | 18-- | — | January 1995 | £17,250 |
| Cello | 18-- | — | January 1995 | £8,625 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1995 | £805 |
| Violin | 1860 c. | — | January 1995 | £3,450 |
| Cello | 18-- | — | January 1994 | £17,692 |
| Cello | 18-- | — | January 1994 | £16,100 |
| Cello | 1822 | — | January 1994 | £8,625 |
| Violin | 1844 | — | January 1994 | £4,025 |
| Cello | 1847 | — | January 1994 | £14,950 |
| Viola | 39.1 cm 1836 | — | January 1994 | £2,530 |
| Violin | 1831 | — | January 1994 | £5,750 |
| Cello | 1832 | — | January 1993 | £22,000 |
| Violin | 1840 c. | — | January 1993 | £3,105 |
| Cello | 18-- | — | January 1993 | £12,650 |
| Cello | 1846 | — | January 1993 | £16,500 |
| Violin | 1833 | — | January 1992 | £2,640 |
| Viola | 39.1 cm 1836 | — | January 1992 | £2,530 |
| Violin | 1844 | — | January 1991 | £4,400 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | — | January 1990 | £3,740 |
| Viola | 39.2 cm 18-- | — | January 1990 | £2,640 |
| Violin | 1844 | — | January 1989 | £3,520 |
| Violin | 1850 c. | — | January 1989 | £2,200 |
| Viola | 39.4 cm 18-- | — | January 1988 | £990 |
| Viola | 38.4 cm 18-- | — | January 1987 | £1,540 |
| Viola | 39.2 cm 1850 c. | — | January 1986 | £1,980 |
| Violin | 1831 | — | January 1985 | £2,750 |
| Violin | 1811 | — | January 1985 | £1,430 |
| Viola | 39.1 cm 1850-60 | — | January 1984 | £2,200 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1983 | £1,650 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1983 | £1,980 |
| Viola | 39.4 cm 1845 | — | January 1983 | £1,540 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | January 1982 | £2,640 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
Thomas Kennedy (1784-1870) was born on January 21, 1784, in London, UK, and passed away in 1870. He was the son and pupil of John Kennedy and was also apprenticed to Thomas Powell on June 17, 1795. For a period, he worked for William Forster (III) but established his own independent workshop from 1804 at 16 Princes Street, Westminster. Around 1813, Kennedy's shop relocated to 16 Nassau Street, and from 1816 to 1848, it was situated at 364 Oxford Street. He retired from business in June 1849, but continued to work from various addresses, including 4 Cummings Place, 4 King's Road, and 164 Pentonville Road. Thomas Kennedy was a prolific maker, and sources contain conflicting information regarding the total number of instruments produced; William Meredith Morris states he 'turned out at least two thousand instruments', while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff and Cecie Stainer indicate he 'had made 300 violoncelli und Geigen' or 'at least 300 violoncellos as well as other instruments' respectively. George Hart notes he 'probably made more instruments than any English maker, with the exception of Crask'. He continued to supply instruments to the firm of Goulding, D'Almaine & Co.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- Thomas Kennedy's work varied in grade, ranging from unpurfled instruments with thin, dark varnish to distinguished and well-finished examples featuring a fine, transparent spirit varnish. William Meredith Morris notes that while the workmanship was generally good, the tone was not always of equal merit, sometimes being harsh and metallic.
- Cello Model
- His cellos are particularly well-known and are considered the most useful products of his workshop, typically made on a distinctive shortened Amati model with long middle bouts.
- Materials and Varnish
- An example cited by William Meredith Morris describes a violin with a birch back and yellow varnish.
- Signing Practices
- Most of his work is signed in pencil on the inner surface of the table, and occasionally in ink above the endpin on the lower ribs.
- Bows
- Bows originally featured open ivory frogs and were branded 'KENNEDY', 'Thos Kennedy / Maker / Nassau Street / Middlesex Hospital', or 'Thos. Kennedy Londini. 1860 Thos. Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street, London'.
- Bows originally with open ivory frogs, branded: KENNEDY Thos Kennedy
Maker
Nassau Street
Middlesex Hospital Thos. Kennedy Londini. 1860John Dilworth - Thos. Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street, LondonJohn Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: Thomas Kennedy was the son and pupil of John Kennedy and was also apprenticed to Thomas Powell. He worked for a period for William Forster (III).
- Collaborators and Employees: In his independent workshop, he employed skilled individuals such as James Brown and later some of the best English bow makers, including Thomas Tubbs, James Dodd, and Edward Dodd. William Forster (IV) also made instruments for him around 1810, as did John Crowther.
- Family Significance: was the most significant maker from the Kennedy family.
- Prolific Output: George Hart suggests he made more instruments than any other English maker, with the exception of Crask, highlighting his substantial contribution to English instrument making.
Further Information
- Workshop Locations: Thomas Kennedy's workshops were located at 16 Princes Street, Westminster (from 1804), 16 Nassau Street (around 1813), and 364 Oxford Street (from 1816-1848). After his retirement in 1849, he continued to work from various addresses, including 4 Cummings Place, 4 King's Road, and 164 Pentonville Road.
- Branding: The brand of Goulding, D'Almaine & Co is sometimes found beneath the back button of instruments he supplied to them.
- Labels: An example of a label found in his instruments is 'THOS. KENNEDY, LONDINI, 1860'.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
KENNEDY, Thomas Born 1784, died 1870 London UK. Son and pupil of John Kennedy, above. Also apprenticed to Thomas Powell. From 1802 working for William Forster (III), but established independently from 1804 at 16 Princes Street, employing James Brown and later some of the best English bow makers, including Thomas Tubbs, James Dodd, and Edward Dodd. William Forster (IV) also made instruments for him c.1810, as did John Crowther. In about 1813 Kennedy’s shop moved to 16 Nassau Street, and from 1816-1848 was at 364 Oxford Street. This shop then closed but Kennedy continued to work from various addresses: 4 Cummings Place, 4 King’s Road, and 164 Pentonville Road. Continued to supply instruments to the firm of Goulding, D’Almaine & Co, whose brand is sometimes found beneath the back button. Kennedy was a prolific maker, working in various grades, from quite poor unpurfled instruments with thin dark varnish to quite distinguished and well-finished examples with a fine transparent spirit varnish. His cellos are now best known, and the most useful products of his workshop, usually made on a distinctive shortened Amati model with long middle bouts. Most of his work is signed in pencil on the inner surface of the table, and occasionally in ink above the endpin on the lower ribs. Bows originally with open ivory frogs, branded: KENNEDY Thos Kennedy / Maker / Nassau Street / Middlesex Hospital Thos. Kennedy Londini. 1860 Thos. Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street, London [BVMA]
George Hart+
Son of the above. Probably made more instruments than any English maker, with the exception of Crask.
William Meredith Morris+
He was a prolific maker, and turned out at least two thousand instruments of all sizes. The workmanship is good all over, but the tone is not of equal merit, being often harsh and metallic. A violin with a birch back and yellow varnish had the following label : —
THOS. KENNEDY, LONDINI, 1860
Cecie Stainer+
b. Jan. 21, 1784, London ; d. 1870. Was a son of John Kennedy ; pupil of his father, also of Thomas Powell, to whom he was apprenticed June 17, 1795. He worked at times for William Forster (1764-1824), but his own workshop was first in Princes Street, Westminster, and then at 364, Oxford Street.
He retired from business in June, 1849, having made at least 300 violoncellos as well as other instruments; all his work was well and neatly finished.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Sohn von John K., erst Schüler seines Vaters, dann von Thomas Powell.
Eine Zeit lang arbeitete er bei William III. Forster und eröffnete hierauf in
der Princess Street, Westminster, seine eigene Werkstatt und verzog später
nach der Oxford Street No. 364. Als er sich 1849 zur Ruhe setzte, hatte er
300 Violoncelli und Geigen gemacht. Er war der Bedeutendste aus der Familie
Kennedy.
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