Tim Wright Fine Violins: Three violins made in Glasgow

Glasgow has long been a centre of violin making in Scotland, with the trade becoming especially vibrant as the city grew into a major cultural and industrial metropolis. Today, we take a look at three violins made in the city between 1880 and 1947.

The violins are by George Duncan, James Briggs and Andrew Smillie, all of whom had a big impact on the city. The first of these makers won a major award at the London Inventions exhibition of 1885, famously beating the great Hungarian maker Béla Szepessy to the gold medal!

This international connection continues with the activities of James Briggs, a prize winner at Leeds, Paris and Vienna whose shop dealt with many fine violins. The violin in this video is an exceptionally well-observed copy of a Guadagnini: Briggs' work as a copyist connects him to makers in London, Paris and elsewhere.

The third violin was made by Andrew Smillie, the middle member of a three generation violin shop. The Smillie workshop was another hugely influential violin business in Glasgow, dealing in fine instruments and keeping Glasgow firmly on the violin making map.

Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments!

George Duncan violin: www.wrightviolins.com/george-duncan-scottish-violin-for-sale
James Briggs violin: www.wrightviolins.com/james-briggs-violin-for-sale-1922
Andrew Smillie violin: www.wrightviolins.com/andrew-smillie-glasgow-violin-for-sale

Instagram: / timwrightfineviolins