Manchester School
Thomas Anyon
Manchester, b. 1854
Thomas Anyon (b. 1854) was a British gentleman amateur violin maker born in Preston. Educated at the Normal School, he developed a passion for various arts and sciences, with the violin being a constant interest. Inspired by E. Heron-Allen's book, he undertook extensive mathematical and experimental research before crafting his first instrument in 1892. He produced fine work, noted for its magnificent workmanship, original or Cremonese-inspired models, and a deep golden red oil varnish. His instruments are known for their large, rich, and free tone, and feature his carved monogram on the scroll. Anyon worked circa 1896-1914 in Manchester, UK, and sold his instruments privately.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 1892 | October 1993 | £506 |
Maker Overview
Life
Thomas Anyon (b. 1854) was a gentleman amateur born in Preston on June 8, 1854, and educated at the Normal School there. Throughout his life, he maintained a strong interest in studious pursuits, including painting, music, modelling, and science, with the violin remaining a constant companion., the incentive to construct a violin came from reading E. Heron-Allen's book, Violin Making, as it Was and Is. Before embarking on construction, Anyon dedicated many months to studying the mathematics of the instrument, conducting experiments with air volumes acting upon resonating plates of various media, and building a sound-box to gather reliable data on thicknesses and air volumes. His initial research yielded results that justified further investigation, leading him to create his first instrument in 1892. At the time of Morris's writing, he was constructing his fifty-third instrument. In 1895, he employed two assistants for eight months to help with rough work; however, he found it impossible to achieve the necessary violin art and finish from cabinet-workers' labor and was obliged to dismiss them. John Dilworth notes that Anyon worked circa 1896-1914.
Characteristics
- Model
- William Meredith Morris describes Thomas Anyon's model as original, of full proportions, and very artistic. John Dilworth, conversely, states that Anyon produced fine work on Cremonese models.
- Varnish
- The varnish used by Anyon was an oil-based one, available in different shades. Instruments examined by William Meredith Morris featured a deep golden red varnish that was perfectly transparent and fiery.
- Workmanship
- William Meredith Morris characterized Anyon's workmanship as magnificent. John Dilworth also describes his work as "Fine work."
- Tone
- The instruments produced by Anyon are noted by William Meredith Morris for their large, rich, and free tone.
- Signature
- The maker's monogram is carved on the back of the scroll, at the base near the scollop.
Influence and legacy
- Inspiration: Thomas Anyon was inspired to begin violin making after reading E. Heron-Allen's book, Violin Making, as it Was and Is.
- Self-Study: He undertook extensive self-study, including the mathematics of the instrument, and conducted experiments with air volumes and resonating plates to gather data before constructing his first violin.
- Sales: Thomas Anyon sold several of his instruments privately, with prices ranging from thirty to fifty guineas.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
ANYON, Thomas Born 1854, Worked circa. 1896-1914 Manchester UK. Amateur maker. Fine work on Cremonese models.
William Meredith Morris+
A gentleman amateur, who produces excellent work. He was born in Preston, June 8, 1854, and educated at the Normal School there. Throughout life he has always been fond of studious pursuits, particularly of painting, music, modelling, science, &:c., with ever the fiddle as his constant friend. It was the perusal of ” Violin Making, as it Was and Is,” by E. Heron- Allen, which first gave him the incentive to construct a violin. Before so doing he studied the mathematics of the instrument for many months, experimenting with volumes of air acting upon resonating plates of different media, and constructing a sound-box in order to obtain reliable data as to thicknesses and air volumes. The results justifying further research, he made his first instrument in 1892, and is now constructing his fifty-third. During the year 1895 he employed for eight months two assistants to help in the rough work only, but was obliged to dispense with their help, finding from beginning to end that the task of getting anything like the violin art and finish out of cabinet-workers’ labour was a hopeless one. His model is original, of full proportions, and very artistic. The varnish is an oil one of different shades. On the instruments examined by me it was a deep golden red perfectly transparent and fiery. The workmanship is magnificent, and the tone large, rich, and free. The maker’s monogram is carved on the back of the scroll, at the base near the scollop. Mr. Anyon tells me that he has sold several of his instruments privately at prices ranging from thirty to fifty guineas.
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