William Brown

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William Brown is a little-known maker, whose instruments demonstrate a strong connection to Peter Wamsley, and probably much of his work exists either attributed to Wamsley School or originally sold under his label as lower grade work. One violin labeled ‘Wm Brown London 1749’ shows that he was a ‘small-master’, a craftsman ...Read More who lacked a retail premises of his own, providing further support for his identity as an outworker. The violin is of a small-cornered but somewhat robust Stainer-inspired model found among Wamsley’s work and late examples by Nathaniel Cross in the 1740s period, a halfway point between the highly refined Stainer copies produced by Wamsley and others at the top end of the market, and the ‘London Stainer Pattern’ that emerged in the late 18th century. Wood and varnish are similar to those used by Wamsley, the stylised Staineresque scroll is likewise typical, and the painted purfling provides indication of the intended quality. Read Less

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