Peter Wamsley
Violin maker
(c. 1670 – 1744)
The tradition of great English cellos starts with Peter Wamsley, who worked in London in the early 1700s. His workshop had various names over the course of his career, all of them with the word "harp," which was typical of the period. Wamsley seems to have been recognized for his work, as he counted the Prince of Wales among his distinguished patrons. He had effectively retired by 1741, but his label was used by his son Peter, who helped him for a significant part of his career, and his assistant Thomas Smith, who succeeded him in 1751.
Wamsley's cellos bear a dark rich varnish and are much more suited to modern use than his violins, which are delicate and meticulously crafted interpretations of Stainer.
Price History
- The auction record for this maker is $31,165 in Jun 2011, for a cello.
- 77 auction price results.
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Wamsley family tree
