Amati > Makers Archive > R > Joseph Rook

Joseph Rook

Carlisle, 1777–1852

Pupil of Joseph Scott. Employed by him as a farm labourer and instrument maker at his farm Haltcliff, Eskett, near Caldbeck 1795-1800. Became chorister at Carlisle Cathedral in 1800 and choir master from 1807. — John Dilworth
Worked Carlisle
Made Violin
Taught by Joseph Scott
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Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£3,600

4 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
ViolinTwo-piece back of faint medium curl, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 24Gardiner HoulgateMarch 2012£3,600est. £ 900-1.200
Violin1830 c.—August 1993£462
Violin1850 c.—September 1991£935
Violin1807-52—November 1986£176

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

ROOK, Joseph Born 1777 Caldbeck, died 1852 Carlisle UK. Pupil of Joseph Scott. Employed by him as a farm labourer and instrument maker at his farm Haltcliff, Eskett, near Caldbeck 1795-1800. Became chorister at Carlisle Cathedral in 1800 and choir master from 1807. Contributed to Sandys & Forster History of the Violin’ (London, 1864) in which he states ‘I have made 12 tenors and 5 violoncellos; no double basses. I marked my name with a small stamp ‘J.Rook/ Carlisle’. I generally wrote my name in the inside of the bellies with a black lead pencil’. Forster however mentions violins made by him. Cello cited in Hill Archive: ‘work and style fair but amateurish. Materials good. Crude outline; prominent rounded edges; blunt corners and exaggerated Stainer ‘f’s, placed too high. Varnish light golden brown.’ Small 28 ½” (72.4cm) cello model. Inscribed internally: J.Rook / Carlisle 1816 [Hill Archive, Sandys & Forster, BVMA]

Cecie Stainer+

A maker in London about 1777 to 1830. His instruments show good work and follow the pattern of Forster.

William Meredith Morris+

He made fairly good copies of Stainer and Amati, on the Forster lines. The tone in some instances was very good.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Vielleicht ein Schüler der Forster, an deren Arbeit seine Geigen erinnern.

Henri Poidras+

London Circa 1780. Work after the Forster manner.

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