John Frederick (II) Lott

History

John Frederick (II) Lott (1804-1870) was born in 1804 and died in 1870 in London, UK, according to John Dilworth's The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers. Sources contain conflicting information about his death date, with Cecie Stainer's A Dictionary of Violin Makers stating he died in 1871.

He was the second son and pupil of John Lott (I). He was briefly apprenticed with his brother George to R. Davis in Coventry Street, making violins and guitars for them. For some time, he worked independently, supplying instruments to his father's employer, Thomas Dodd, and to another London dealer, Metzler & Co. Around 1823, he gave up violin making, taking up various jobs including becoming an elephant trainer in a travelling circus. He returned to London around 1840, and by 1851, he was established at 60 Wardour Street, once again as a violin maker, a business he occupied until his death. He also became the London agent for J. B. Vuillaume and carried out work for him.

Craft

• Imitation Skill: John Frederick (II) Lott developed great skill in reproducing master instruments and making imitations in a persuasive style, not necessarily of particular instruments. He was notably famous as a skilled imitator, as mentioned by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zu Gegenwart.
• Conversion of Work: He was adept at 'converting' the work of lesser makers into that of more desirable and valuable names.
• Guarneri Imitations: He was one of the first makers to closely imitate Guarneri del Gesù, and several of his copies are known to have been traded as original Guarneris.
• Labeling Practices: He very rarely labeled instruments with his own name, with most instruments bearing facsimiles of other labels.

Influence

• Parental Tutelage: He was the second son and pupil of John Lott (I).
• Apprenticeship: He was briefly apprenticed with his brother George to R. Davis in Coventry Street, London.
• Pupil: He was the teacher of Edward Withers.

Legacy

• Retained Works: Edward Withers, his pupil, retained a quartet of John Frederick (II) Lott's work.

Further Information

• Nickname: He was known as 'Jack'.
• Workshop Location: By 1851, he was established at 60 Wardour Street in London.

Summary

John Frederick (II) Lott (1804-1870/71), known as 'Jack', was a highly skilled English violin maker, son and pupil of John Lott (I). After an apprenticeship with R. Davis and a period working independently, he briefly left the craft before re-establishing his workshop at 60 Wardour Street in London by 1851. He was renowned for his exceptional ability to imitate master instruments, particularly those of Guarneri del Gesù, often converting lesser works and rarely labeling instruments with his own name. Lott also served as the London agent for J. B. Vuillaume and taught Edward Withers.