Henry Lockey Hill

One of the finest craftsmen of the Hill family, Henry Lockey (also known as Lockey) was the son of the first Lockey Hill. It is possible that he trained under his uncle Joseph Hill II, and it is certain that he was working for John Betts by 1806. Sometime ...Read More around 1810 Prussian King Frederick William III entrusted his Stradivari cello to Betts for repair, and Hill took the opportunity to create templates of it, which presumably served as a model for his later Stradivari copy cellos. Hill took over his father's shop in 1810, and his three sons William Ebsworth, Thomas, and Joseph II were all makers, though W.E. is by far the most well known.

In general Hill's work represents a significant step forward from the trade instruments his father and grandfather are most known for. His decision to abandon the exaggerated and distorted Stainer copies favored in previous generations was a sound one, and instead he used a personalized version of the Stradivari model. His subtle varnish is of excellent quality and is in keeping with his generally elegant approach. Read Less

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