John Betts I
Bow maker / Violin maker
(1752 – 1823)
Little is known about the early life of John Betts, son of Edward Betts, a farmer from Stamford. In 1765 he moved to London to apprentice with Richard Duke and after seven years he became shop foreman, eventually buying the business from Duke's daughter. By 1781 he was working independently and hired his first apprentice around that time. In addition to his work as a maker, Betts imported the highest-caliber Italian instruments to London, and was partly responsible for the ascent of Stradivari's reputation to equal Stainer's in public opinion of the period. His shop was staffed by some of the best 18th and 19th century British craftsmen, including Vincenzo Panormo, Joseph Hill II, Henry Lockey Hill,
Over the course of its history the shop produced a large range of instruments, from inexpensive models with painted purfling to some of the most exquisite Stradivari and Guarneri copies in the history of British violin making. Under Arthur especially the shop became known for its reproductions of historic instruments, similar to the activities of J.B. Vuillaume in Paris. John Dodd and Thomas Tubbs were among the shop's best suppliers of bows. It continued into the 1860s under the direction of Arthur's sons Arthur II and John II before finally closing in 1867.
Price History
- The auction record for this maker is $72,846 in Oct 2023, for a cello.
- 124 auction price results.
View all auction prices for John Betts I
Bows
Violin -
1820
London
Violin -
No Date
London
Violin -
No Date
London
Viola -
c. 1770
London
Viola -
1800
London
Viola -
1820
London
Cello -
c. 1780
London
Cello -
1780
London
Cello -
c. 1780
London
Cello -
1791
London