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William Walker

Mid Calder, 1859–1943

Hairdresser and self-taught violin maker. From reading Heron-Allen Violin Making, as it was and is produced over 200 instruments on Stradivari and Guarneri models. Very fine work of a professional standard. — John Dilworth

Worked Mid Calder
Made Violin

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£4,500

16 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
ViolinLabel n. 7 to interior, two-piece back Lot 639McTear’sFebruary 2023£1,320est. £ 600-1,000
ViolinTwo-piece back of broad curl, table of fine grain, varnish of a light reddish colour on a golden ground Lot 1414Gardiner HoulgateSeptember 2017£1,800est. £ 700-1,000
Violin Lot 62BonhamsDecember 2014£4,500
ViolinLabelled William Walker, fecit Mid Calder, Anno 1909, of a red orange brown colour Lot 62BonhamsMay 2014£4,500est. £ 2,000-3,000
Violin35.6 cm Mid Calder 1921 n°125January 2010£1,680
Violin35.6 cm 1908January 2006£965
Violin35.5 cm Mid Calder, 1908 Attributed toJanuary 2006£840
Violin1922January 2003£1,998
Violin1904January 2002£1,850
Violin1906January 1994£1,725
Violin1911January 1993£1,100
Violin1905January 1990£1,455
Violin1904January 1988£720
Violin1906January 1987£385
Violin1911January 1982£453
Violin1921January 1980£281

Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

WALKER, William Born 1859 Mid Calder, Midlothian, died 1943 Broxburn, Scotland UK. Hairdresser and self-taught violin maker. From reading Heron-Allen Violin Making, as it was and is produced over 200 instruments on Stradivari and Guarneri models. Very fine work of a professional standard. Distinctive scroll modelled on Bergonzi: wide projecting eye and narrow first turn of the volute. Fine materials. Rich orange to red-brown varnish. Used commercial varnishes on early work but developed his own copal oil recipe coloured with alizarine pigments. William Walker. / Mid Calder / 1922 / no.130 William Walker/ Fecit Broxburn / Anno 1929 [Rattray]

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