Amati > Makers Archive > P > Walter Plain

Edinburgh School

Walter Plain

Edinburgh, 1804–1880

Apprenticed as a cabinet maker in Edinburgh. Possibly trained by his neighbour in Brunswick Street, Robert Ballantyne, whose work his own resembles. Active in Glasgow from 1840. Fine work in classical styles. A few cellos known, but a prolific maker of violins. His involvement with the well-known de\u{2026} — John Dilworth

Worked Edinburgh
Made Violin

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£2,415

4 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
Violin35.7 cm (head later)March 2011£2,415
Violin1861March 1992£1,034
Violin1871September 1988£528
Violin1852June 1987£330

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

PLAIN, Walter Born 1804 Edinburgh, died 1880 Glasgow, Scotland UK. Apprenticed as a cabinet maker in Edinburgh. Possibly trained by his neighbour in Brunswick Street, Robert Ballantyne, whose work his own resembles. Active in Glasgow from 1840. Fine work in classical styles. A few cellos known, but a prolific maker of violins. His involvement with the well-known dealer David Laurie may have brought about his later use of shaded and antiqued varnish. Died in the Glasgow poorhouse. Branded internally: ‘Plain / Glasw.’ Walter Plain Glasgow, 1857 Walter Plain / Brunswick Place / Glasgow / 1862 [Rattray]

William Meredith Morris+

Stradivari model. The workmanship is good, but the varnish is a hard spirit one, and the tone loud and piercing. Label : —

WALTER PLANE, GLASGOW, 1860

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