Skegness School
George Hudson
Skegness, 1859–1916
George Hudson (1859-1916) was a self-taught English violin maker from Skegness, Lincolnshire, known for his clean workmanship, good tone, and personal models. He came from a musical family and extensively experimented with his own amber oil varnishes. He produced approximately 100 instruments, including violins, violoncellos, and double-basses, and was also recognized as a skilled repairer and dealer.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label n. 57 and brand under the button, fair condition | June 2024 | £4,042 |
| Violin | October 2014 | £2 |
Maker Overview
Life
George Hudson (1859-1916) was born on February 27, 1859, at Goodshawfold, Rossendale Valley, the son of Richard Hudson, a famous fiddler known in Lancashire as "Dick o' New-laith." He came from an old musician family in Lancashire. In 1878, he moved to Skegness, where his father became music director for the Earl of Scarborough. Soon after, Hudson began to learn violin making and extensively experimented with violin varnishes. After ten years of study, he started making new violins, calculating the outlines and arching based on geometric principles. He was a self-taught maker, working from 'Cremona House' in Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK. He died in 1916.
Characteristics
- Workmanship
- His instruments are characterized by clean work and good tone, and his workmanship is described as good and careful.
- Production
- He made about one hundred violins, and also a few violoncellos and double-basses.
- Design
- He used personal models and calculated the outlines and arching according to geometric principles. He followed various models.
- Varnish
- He prepared his own oil varnish, which he applied in various shades, ranging from amber-yellow to ruby-red.
- Other Skills
- He was also considered a skilled repairer and an important dealer.
- Identification
- Each instrument was labeled, branded, and numbered.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
HUDSON, George Born 1859, died 1916 Skegness, Lincolnshire UK. Self-taught maker, working from ‘Cremona House’ in Skegness. Personal models. About 100 instruments completed, using amber oil varnish in several shades of yellow and red. Each instrument labelled, branded, and numbered.
William Meredith Morris+
He is the son of Richard Hudson, better known in Lancashire as “Dick o’ New-laith,” a famous fiddler, and was born at Goodshawfold, Rossendale Valley, on Feb. 27, 1859. He has received a good elementary education, and has taken up chemistry latterly as a hobby. He has made up to date about one hundred violins, and a few violoncellos and double-basses. He follows various models, and the workmanship is good and careful.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Einer alten Musikerfamilie aus Lancashire entstammend, kam er 1878 nach
Skegness, wo sein Vater als Musikdirector in die Dienste des Earls von Scarborough
trat. Bald darauf begann Hudson das Geigenmachen zu erlernen und
beschäftigte sich auch eingehend mit Geigenlackversuchen. Nach zehnjährigen
Studien unternahm er es dann, neue Geigen zu machen, wobei er die Umrisslinien
und die Wölbung nach geometrischen Grundsätzen berechnete. Er hat
seitdem sehr viele Geigen gemacht, die sich durch saubere Arbeit und guten
Ton auszeichnen. Seinen Öllack, den er in verschiedenen Tönen, von bernsteingelb
bis rubinroth, anwendet, bereitet er sich selbst. Er gilt auch als geschickter
Reparateur und ist als Händler von Bedeutung. Seine Werkstatt führt das
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