A violin believed to be by Richard Duke c.1760
Labelled Charles Samuel Thompson
A nice old English violin from London. The violin is in excellent condition with minimal repairs for an instrument of this age. It’s tone lends itself more towards the chamber player. A sweet old sound and comfortable to play.
Below is an article extract from Andy Hooker regarding Thompson(s) and Duke.
By 1761 the firm was known as Thompson & Sons. Peter was a dealer, not a maker, and
presumably put his label inside the violins of others. This original label [picture] has the address as
the Violin &c and makes the claim that it was actually made by the Thompson’s, but under the table
are no less than four pencil inscriptions of the real maker: Richd. Duke, 1761 [picture]
Richard Duke was in Red Lyon Street in 1757, and by 1760 somewhere south off High Holborn.
He seems to have been financially unsteady until late 1760’s, but gained the patronage of two
different Dukes (Gloucester and Cumberland) by 1774, and thereafter moved to 5, High Holborn.
