Archibald Ritchie
1833–1901
Archibald RITCHIE (1833-1901/1902) was a Scottish violin maker, born in Woodend and dying in Dundee. Despite his professional employment in railway construction and at Dundee harbour, he was a prolific and self-taught luthier, producing over 200 violins. His early work followed Stradivari models with spirit varnish, transitioning to Guarneri models with oil or Whitelaw's varnish in later years. Ritchie's instruments are noted for their excellent workmanship and tone, earning him recognition as a leading Scottish maker and the best of the Dundee school.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
3 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 1883 | — | May 2002 | £673 |
| Violin | 1895 | — | October 1994 | £1,058 |
| Violin | 1880 | — | June 1988 | £352 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Archibald RITCHIE (1833-1901/1902) was born on October 3, 1833, at Woodend, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, which is also identified as Woodend, Kincardineshire. He died in Dundee, Scotland, with sources providing conflicting dates for his passing: William Meredith Morris states 1902 due to blood-poisoning, while John Dilworth indicates 1901. Ritchie was professionally employed at Dundee harbour and also worked for many years in railway construction, dedicating all his free time to studying violin making, a pursuit he began as a boy. He engaged more seriously with the craft from 1803, though this date appears to be a typographical error given his birth year of 1833. He completed a significant number of instruments; Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes over 120 violins, William Meredith Morris states over 150, and John Dilworth and Henri Poidras both suggest his production exceeded 200 violins.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- Instruments produced by Ritchie are noted for their excellent workmanship and tone, described as thoroughly British in character, sober, and solid. Henri Poidras characterizes his work as a very thorough modern make after the Cremonese masters.
- Models
- His older violins were made after the Stradivari model, while later instruments favored the Guarneri model, specifically a large Joseph Guarnerius. In some instances, he slightly exaggerated the proportions of Del Gesu, but the result was never displeasing due to his highly developed artistic sense.
- Varnish
- Early instruments featured spirit varnish, while later ones utilized oil varnish. He predominantly used Whitelaw's varnish, often in a red or golden red color as fine orange to dark red. Henri Poidras, however, noted that his varnish lacked suppleness.
- Identification
- Ritchie used a brand stamp with his name, branding instruments internally and occasionally beneath the back button with 'A Ritchie'. He also used manuscript labels, such as 'A. Ritchie / Maker / No. 113 Dundee 1895' and 'No 67 Dundee 1883'.
- A. Ritchie
Maker
No. 113 Dundee 1895John Dilworth - No 67 Dundee 1883John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: Archibald Ritchie was a self-taught maker, having studied violin making extensively on his own.
- Inspiration: His work was inspired by the Cremonese masters, with early pieces following Stradivari and later ones adopting the Guarneri model.
- Recognition: He is considered to be in the front rank of modern Scottish makers and is recognized as the best maker of the Dundee school.
- Future Value: William Meredith Morris predicted that his beautiful work would be highly valued in the future.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
RITCHIE, Archibald Born 1833 Woodend, Kincardineshire, died 1901 Dundee, Scotland UK. The best maker of the Dundee school. Part-time self-taught maker, professionally employed at Dundee harbour. Early work on Stradivari-derived model; later favoured Guarneri. Completed over 200 violins. Generally quite impressive if unsophisticated work. Fine orange to dark red red Whitelaw varnish. Branded internally and occasionally beneath back button: ‘A Ritchie’ . Manuscript labels: A. Ritchie / Maker / No. 113 Dundee 1895 No 67 Dundee 1883
William Meredith Morris+
He was born at Woodend, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Oct. 3, 1833, and died in Dundee in 1902, of blood-poisoning. He made over one hundred and fifty violins of excellent workmanship and tone on the model of a large Joseph Guarnerius. The work is thoroughly British in character — sober and solid. In some instances he slightly exaggerated the proportions of Del Gesu, but the result is never displeasing, the artistic sense being too highly developed in Ritchie to tolerate anything bordering on the grotesque. He used Whitelaw’s varnish, mostly of a red, or golden red colour. He was in the front rank of modern Scottish makers, and his beautiful work will be highly valued in the future.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er war lange Jahre im Eisenbahnbau thätig und hat alle seine freie Zeit darauf verwendet, die Geigenmacherei zu studieren; er begann damit schon als Knabe. Ernsthafter beschäftigte er sich damit seit 1803 und hat über 120 Violinen gemacht, die alle recht gut sind und eine geschickte Hand verrathen. Seine älteren Geigen sind nach Stradivari gemacht und haben Spirituslack, die späteren nach Guarneri mit Öllack. Er verwendet auch einen Brandstempel mit seinem Namen.
Henri Poidras+
Very thorough modern make after the Cremonese masters. His varnish lacks suppleness. Judging from the numbers on his last labels, his production must have been fairly large and at least two hundred instruments are to be accounted to him.
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