Leeds School
William (I) Booth
Leeds, c.1779–1857
c.1857 Leeds, Yorkshire UK. Active from 1809 following previous employment as a hairdresser. Worked at 57 Mill Hill 1809-1823, 15 Call Lane c.1830, and 5 Mark Lane c.1845. Amati inspired model and occasional ‘long pattern’ Stradivari violins with red-brown varnish. Rather unexceptional work. The Hil\u{2026} — John Dilworth
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 36.3 cm Leeds, 1853 | June 2011 | £1,700 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Leeds, 1830 | October 2007 | £1,085 |
| Violin | 1855 | October 1995 | £2,185 |
| Viola | 38.3 cm 1852 | March 1990 | £1,540 |
| Violin | 1855 | June 1989 | £374 |
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
BOOTH, William (I) Born 1779, d.c.1857 Leeds, Yorkshire UK. Active from 1809 following previous employment as a hairdresser. Worked at 57 Mill Hill 1809-1823, 15 Call Lane c.1830, and 5 Mark Lane c.1845. Amati inspired model and occasional ‘long pattern’ Stradivari violins with red-brown varnish. Rather unexceptional work. The Hill Archive has details of a violin made from pine taken from Leeds Parish Church: Amati model, ordinary work, brownish-red varnish. W. Booth, / maker / Leeds, 18..
William Meredith Morris+
He began to make violins in 1809, and continued to make and repair till 1856. He followed the Amati model chiefly, but I have seen one violin of his make which was somewhat after the long Strad pattern. Fairly good work and tone. Label : —
WM. BOOTH, MAKER, LEEDS, 1820
Cecie Stainer+
b. 1779; believed to have died 1857 or 1858. At first a hairdresser, but 1809 commenced to make and repair violins.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Ursprünglich Friseur, verlegte er sich seit 1809 auf den Geigenbau und erlangte
als Reparateur eine anerkennenswerthe Geschicklichkeit.
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Working in Leeds at the same time
George (I) Firth worked 1830–1840
Handel (Andrew) Pickard worked 1856–1875
James Lilley worked 1800–1820
John Charles Fryer worked 1830–1845
John Gough worked 1820
John Knowles Heaps worked 1840–1855
Jospeh Fox worked 1855–1864
Mark William Dearlove 1803–1880