James (I) Hardie

HARDIE, James (I) Worked circa. 1830-1856 Edinburgh, Scotland UK. Not related to Matthew or James Hardie (II), below, but worked in the Matthew Hardie style on a Stradivari model. Manuscript label: James Hardie fecit / Edinburgh 1839

This Hardie was not related to any of the other Hardies, or to the maker of that name now living. His models resemble those of Matt. Hardie, i.e. they are on the lines of N. Amati and Stradivari, but they can hardly be termed copies. The workmanship and tone are excellent. Label : —

JAMES HARDIE, FECIT, EDINBURGH, 1841

b. Aguhadley, Ellon, about 1837 ”grandson and pupil of Peter Hardie. Started his own business in Edinburgh, where he is assisted by his four sons. They have made between two and three thousand instruments, on the Maggini, Stradivari, and Guarneri patterns, using oil varnish, reddish-yellow colour, of good quality.
Exhibited in Edinburgh, 1887, 1890; received bronze medal, 1887, and gold medal, 1890.

Obwohl sein Verwandtschaftsverhältniss zu den übrigen Geigenmachern seines Namens nicht feststeht, scheint er doch ein Schüler von Matthew oder Thomas H. gewesen zu sein. Er war ursprünglich Modelltischler und brachte daher, als er anfing, Geigen zu machen, eine grosse Handfertigkeit mit. Seine Violinen sind meist nach Stradivari gemacht.