John Thomas Hart

London, 1805–1874

John Thomas Hart (1805-1874) was a prominent English luthier, connoisseur, and repairer. Apprenticed to Samuel Gilkes in 1820, he established his own workshop by 1825. While his output of new instruments was limited and often in the style of Amati, he gained immense renown for his profound knowledge of Italian violins and his exceptional skill in their repair. Hart played a pivotal role in the English violin market, facilitating the acquisition and sale of numerous significant Italian instruments and assembling notable collections. He founded the firm Hart & Son, which continued his legacy until 1939.

Worked London

Maker Overview

Life

John Thomas Hart (1805-1874) was born on December 17, 1805, in London and passed away on January 1, 1874. He began his apprenticeship with Samuel Gilkes in May 1820, where he learned the mechanical aspects of his profession. By 1825, he was able to open his own workshop, though John Dilworth notes he established independently in Vauxhall Bridge Road from approximately 1836, and at 14 Princes Street from 1838. Hart quickly developed into a skilled master, but his primary significance lay in his expertise as a connoisseur and repairer of Italian violins. He maintained an active business relationship with Tarisio and, became a crucial channel through which many rare Italian instruments entered England. His discerning eye and remarkable memory for instruments earned him a preeminent position among connoisseurs of his era. He was instrumental in bringing together several notable collections, including that of the late Mr. James Goding, which was later dispersed by Messrs. Christie & Manson in 1857. He also acquired the small but exquisite collection of Mr. Charles Plowden, comprising four violins by Stradivari and four by Guarneri, which returned to his possession upon Plowden's death. Furthermore, he was involved with a significant portion of the well-known collection of the late Mr. Joseph Gillott.

Characteristics

New Instruments: John Thomas Hart produced a small number of new instruments, which are considered good copies, particularly in the style of Amati. William Meredith Morris notes he cannot definitively say if Hart followed his master's lines or more closely those of Amati or Stradivari.
Repair and Expertise: He gained a great reputation for his experience and skill in repairing old Italian instruments.

Recorded labels

John Hart
Maker
14 Princes Street, Leicester Square,
London, anno 18..John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Apprenticeship: John Thomas Hart was articled to Samuel Gilkes in May 1820, learning the mechanical branch of violin making from him.
Connoisseurship: He focused his attention on the unique characteristics of Cremonese and Italian violin-makers, quickly developing extensive knowledge in this area.
Reputation: Hart achieved a high position among the connoisseurs of his time due to his unerring eye and powerful memory for instruments.
Business Continuity: He was the founder of the firm Hart & Son, which continued to operate until 1939.
Collections: He was responsible for assembling and handling several remarkable collections of Italian instruments, including those of Goding, Plowden, and a large part of the Gillott collection.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

HART, John Thomas Born 1805, died 1874 London UK. Apprenticed to Samuel Gilkes from 1820. Established independently in Vauxhall Bridge Road from c.1836, and at 14 Princes Street from 1838. Business recorded as ‘Violin & Gun Wharehouse’ in 1840. Small output. Known chiefly as an expert and connoisseur, and founder of the firm Hart & Son which persisted until 1939. John Hart / Maker / 14 Princes Street, Leicester Square, / London, anno 18..

George Hart+

He was articled to Samuel Gilkes in May, 1820, of whom he learned the mechanical branch of his profession. He afterwards centred his attention upon the peculiar characteristics of the Cremonese and Italian Violin-makers generally, and in a comparatively brief space of time obtained an extensive acquaintance in that direction. His unerring eye and powerful memory of instruments once brought under his notice secured for him the highest position among the connoisseurs of his time. Commencing business at a period when the desire to possess instruments by the famous Italian makers was becoming general among amateurs, and being peculiarly fortunate in securing an early reputation as a judge of them, he became the channel through which the greater part of the rare Italian works passed into England, and it has frequently been said that there are very few distinguished instruments in Europe with which he was unacquainted. Among the remarkable collections that he brought together may be mentioned that of the late Mr. James Goding, the remnant of which was dispersed by Messrs. Christie and Manson in 1857; the small but exquisite collection of Mr. Charles Plowden, consisting of four Violins of Stradivari and four of Guarneri, with other instruments of less merit, the whole of which again passed into Mr. Hart’s possession upon the death of their owner; and, lastly, a large portion of the well-known collection of the late Mr. Joseph Gillott, sold by Christie and Manson shortly after the famous sale of pictures belonging to the same collector.

William Meredith Morris+

He was born on Dec. 17, 1805, and died Jan. 1, 1874. He became a pupil of Samuel Gilkes in 1820. He did not make many instruments, but attained great reputation as a repairer and connoisseur. He brought together many remarkable collections of Italian instruments, such as the Goding, the Plowden, and a large part of the Gillot, &c. I have never seen an instrument of his make, and cannot say whether he followed the lines of his master, or more closely those of Amati or Stradivari. Label : —

JOHN HART, MAKER, 14 PRINCES STREET, LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON, 18-

Cecie Stainer+

b. Dec. 17, 1805, London; d. Jan. 1, 1874. In May, 1820 he became a pupil of Samuel Gilkes.
He made few new instruments, but had a great reputation for his experience and skill in repairing old Italian instruments.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Er trat im Mai 1820 in die Lehre bei Samuel Gilkes und entwickelte sich
bald zu einem tüchtigen Meister, so dass er schon 1825 seine eigene Werkstatt
eröffnen konnte. Er hat zwar nicht viele neue Geigen gebaut, diese aber dürfen
als gute Amaticopien gelten. Bedeutender war er jedoch als Kenner italienischer
Geigen und als trefflicher Reparateur. Mit Tarisio stand er in lebhafter Geschäftsverbindung.

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