Wilfred G. Saunders
Nottingham, West Bridgford, 1928–2004
SAUNDERS, Wilfred G. Born 1928 Nottingham, d.2004 West Bridgford UK. Self-taught maker, after apprenticeship as a joiner. Followed Heron-Allen’s book Violin Making as it was and is. Established professionally in West Bridgford from 1949. — John Dilworth
Instruments
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
14 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | A violin by Wilfred G. Saunders, Nottingham, 1958 Lot 27 | Amati | March 2025 | £3,792est. £ 3,000-5,000 |
| Viola | Two-piece back of faint medium curl, varnish of a light reddish colour, very good condition Lot 2451 | Gardiner | March 2024 | £2,806est. £ 1,500-2,500 |
| Two-piece back of faint medium curl, varnish of a deep reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 2454 | — | September 2023 | £3,050est. £ 2,500-3,500 | |
| Tertis model, one-piece back of faint medium curl, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 2405 | — | September 2022 | £2,400est. £ 2,000-3,000 | |
| Two-piece of faint medium narrow curl, varnish of a reddish brown colour, very good condition Lot 2405 | — | June 2022 | £2,400est. £ 2,000-3,000 | |
| Viola | A viola by Wilfred G. Saunders, Nottingham, 1992 Lot 126 | Amati | March 2020 | £3,476est. £ 2,000-4,000 |
| Viola | 42.0 cm West Bridgford, 1984 | — | December 2010 | £2,040 |
| Viola | 42.4 cm 1956 'Tertis' model | — | October 2010 | £960 |
| Viola | 42.4 cm Nottingham, 1962 | — | November 2005 | £2,160 |
| Viola | 42.5 cm 1962 | — | July 2003 | £2,820 |
| Viola | 49.7 cm 1956 | — | October 1995 | £2,070 |
| Viola | 42.5 cm 1955 | — | June 1990 | £1,045 |
| Violin | 1971 | — | April 1987 | £1,045 |
| Violin | 1955 | — | May 1986 | £756 |
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Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
SAUNDERS, Wilfred G. Born 1928 Nottingham, d.2004 West Bridgford UK. Self-taught maker, after apprenticeship as a joiner. Followed Heron-Allen’s book Violin Making as it was and is. Established professionally in West Bridgford from 1949. Involved in the design and production of the Tertis model viola, a large and unwieldy instrument commissioned by the violist Lionel Tertis. Developed his own model for violins and violas derived from Guarneri patterns, generally wide across the centre bouts, with small corners and lavish Guarnerian soundholes, all immaculately finished and with his own meticulously polished oil varnish. Used a French-style exterior mould exclusively. A violist himself, he was a prolific maker of that instrument, but also completed 52 violins and five cellos, each individually named. Taught at the Newark School of Violin Making, as well as his own regular summer schools and evening classes. Remembered by many students as a gifted, inspiring, and practical teacher.
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