Henry James Shrosbree

SHROSBREE, Henry James Born 1858 London UK, Worked from 1895 Adelaide Australia. Established in Adelaide from 1880. Violin maker from c.1895. Medal winner at the Century Exhibition, Adelaide. Good work with fine amber varnish. Henry James Shrosbree, faciebat / Adelaide. S. Australia. Anno 1899 H.J.S

In the opinion of Australian experts, this maker produces work which is of quite an exceptional character. I am not in a position to either endorse or dispute that claim, and I therefore reproduce here an article written in the April number of Music (an Adelaide monthly), 1897, giving an account of the life and work of this maker : — ” Mr. H. J. Shrosbree, of Adelaide, known as a maker and repairer of violins of exceptional ability, was born in London in December 1858. From 1872 till the end of 1880 he followed a seafaring life, voyaging to Adelaide for the second time in the latter year, when he entered the service of Sir E. T. Smith, and remained with him till his retirement from business. Mr. Shrosbree does not claim to belong to a family of violin-makers, as his father was a taxidermist, in whose art the subject of this notice also duly qualified. On leaving Sir Edwin Smith’s employ, Mr. Shrosbree entered that of Mr. Lawrence, the well-known Adelaide taxidermist, who says of him that he understands all branches of this work. Ample proof of this was seen in 1891, when he was awarded first prize and certificate of merit for a very fine exhibit at the Adelaide Exhibition of Art and Industry. But the violin, Mr. Shrosbree’s favourite musical instrument, has had a great charm for him through life, and all his spare time for years was spent in the study of music and the mechanism of the violin. He has made some excellent specimens, which were awarded first prize and certificate of merit for workmanship, model, and tone at the 1895 Exhibition of Art and Industry in Adelaide. That year’s competition in violins was the largest yet held in Australia. Mr. Shrosbree is a practical musician and good violinist, and as an expert on model and tone is able to tell at a glance the method to adopt for restoring an old instrument. The profession recognise him both as a skilful repairer and a maker unrivalled in Australia, and as a self-taught man he is to be congratulated on his success. His instruments produce a fine rich Italian tone. ” He has invented a ‘ relieving bar system ‘ for repairing violins, by which the bars must be located with mathematical accuracy. After years of labour and considerable cost Mr. Shrosbree has discovered the varnish which he uses on his violins, and which is pronounced by experts to be second to none. Besides a valuable testimonial signed by many of the leading musicians of Adelaide, in which Mr. Shrosbree is recognised as a practical musician and first-class violin-maker, he holds others from a number of eminent artists and well-known members of the profession.” An eminent critic writes of one of Shrosbree’s violins as follows: “A severe trial of Mr. Shrosbree’s latest violin reveals the fact that a more perfect or finely-finished instrument it would seem almost impossible to possess. It is fuller in model than any of his previous ones, giving to it that sonorous tone-quality which is all the more surprising when on playing in the different positions (even to the highest of them) it does not affect that gentle refinement of tone when any delicacy is required. This important feature is not generally the case with new violins. The archings are most beautifully worked out, pronouncing it by its appearance a product of art. In quality of tone the lower strings resemble the rich qualities of the clarinet in all its power and endurance, while the notes throughout the A and E strings are particularly clear and brilliant. In fact, it seems difficult to believe when playing upon it that the tones produced are not those from a well-matured instrument. The art of purfling has always been a time of anxiety to a maker when finishing his work. But in this Mr. Shrosbree is remarkably clever, laying it in so finely as to make it almost impossible to believe that such delicate work can be accomplished by hand. The wood is of the finest, specially imported for Mr. Shrosbree by Messrs. S. Marshall & Sons, and when varnished should look very handsome.” The editor of Music, referring to Mr. Shrosbree’s success at the Adelaide Exhibition, 1900, spoke of the award as follows : — ” The commendatory references we have from time to time made to Mr. H. J. Shrosbree’s skill as a luthier, have been very amply confirmed by the judges for musical instruments, &c., at the Century Exhibition (Messrs. Hermann Schrader, A. C. Quin, and Thos. Grigg). Mr. Shrosbree’s exhibit comprised his Nos. 7 and 8 violins, his recently constructed viola, and some assorted bridges. With their brilliant coatings of oil amber varnish the instruments certainly make a splendid show, and the awards given Mr. Shrosbree are as follow : First for violins, first for viola, first for musical appliances (bridges), and a special prize for the best exhibit in its group.” Mr. Shrosbree charges, and, it would appear, receives readily, the high price of £50 for a violin. He makes a speciality of bridges, made of very old wood. I use one of these, and I like it very much.