Arthur Bowler
Violin maker
(b. 1867)
Arthur Bowler was the nephew of George Chanot. He trained as a joiner but later he apprenticed with Joseph Anthony Chanot in Wardour Street from 1895 to 1899, before establishing his own business as a restorer in Islington in 1899. Of the forty instruments that he is reputed to have made, the majority are on the model of Stradivari’s ‘Messiah’, although at least one cello is known, as well as other Guarneri copies. There is a strong similarity between his violins and those with the label of J.A. Chanot, suggesting that they worked together or that he supplied instruments to be sold through the Wardour Street shop. His violins demonstrate a highly academic approach to his subject, producing precise and highly refined interpretations of the ‘Messiah’. Combined with a rather hard and opaque varnish that is out of keeping with Chanot workmanship of the period, his violins have a superficial appearance of contemporaneous Mirecourt work. The high quality of his copies and training in the Chanot workshop is evident in the details upon closer inspection.
Price History
- The auction record for this maker is $8,277 in Jun 2008, for a violin.
- 9 auction price results.
View all auction prices for Arthur Bowler
