James Morgan

History

James Morgan (1839-1906) was born in Kincardine-on-Forth in 1839. At the age of fourteen, he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker who was also an occasional maker of various wooden musical instruments, including violins, as detailed by William Meredith Morris in British Violin Makers. During his apprenticeship, Morgan crafted approximately a dozen violins and one violoncello. After leaving Kincardine, he established himself in Edinburgh, where his violins, noted for their excellent workmanship and tone, quickly garnered the attention of local musicians. According to Morris, Morgan experienced a religious crisis during this period, which led him to abandon violin-making and playing for twenty-eight years. He resumed the art later in life, past what Morris describes as the 'meridian of life', though he continued to produce instruments of high quality, albeit infrequently. John Dilworth, in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, notes that Morgan died in Edinburgh in 1906.

Craft

• Craft: James Morgan was primarily a cabinet-maker who also produced violins, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, who described him as 'Ein Kunsttischler, der auch einige gute Geigen gemacht hat' (An art cabinet-maker who also made some good violins).
• Models: He worked on the Stradivari model, and his work is described by John Dilworth as 'decent Cremonese modelled work'.
• Materials and Varnish: According to William Meredith Morris, Morgan utilized very choice materials and Whitelaw's varnish.
• Tone: His instruments are characterized by a large and mellow tone.
• Output: John Dilworth credits him with approximately 20 instruments, including cellos.
• Labeling: Morgan signed and labelled his instruments internally, typically with his name and the year. An example provided by Dilworth is 'James Morgan / Maker / April 1900 / Edinburgh'. Lütgendorff also mentions that he only wrote his name and the year inside his works.

Influence

• Apprenticeship: James Morgan's initial training was as a cabinet-maker, apprenticed at age fourteen to a skilled workman who also occasionally made various wooden musical instruments, including violins.

Further Information

• Birthplace: Kincardine-on-Forth, Scotland.
• Working Locations: He worked in Kincardine during his apprenticeship and later settled and worked in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Death Place: Edinburgh, Scotland.

Summary

James Morgan (1839-1906) was a Scottish cabinet-maker and violin maker born in Kincardine-on-Forth. Apprenticed at fourteen, he initially produced several violins and a violoncello. He later moved to Edinburgh, where his instruments gained recognition for their quality. After a 28-year hiatus due to a religious crisis, he resumed violin-making, crafting instruments on the Stradivari model using choice materials and Whitelaw's varnish, known for their large and mellow tone. He is credited with approximately 20 instruments and died in Edinburgh in 1906.