Thomas Kennedy

Name: Thomas Kennedy auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

London, 1784–1870

Thomas Kennedy (1784-1870) was a prominent English luthier, son and pupil of John Kennedy, and apprentice to Thomas Powell. He worked for William Forster (III) before establishing his own workshops in London, notably at 16 Princes Street, 16 Nassau Street, and 364 Oxford Street. Kennedy was a prolific maker, known particularly for his cellos, often crafted on a shortened Amati model. His work ranged in quality, from simpler pieces to well-finished examples with fine spirit varnish. He employed notable bow makers and supplied instruments to firms like Goulding, D'Almaine & Co, leaving a significant legacy in English instrument making.

Worked London

Made Cello, Viola, Violin

Taught by John Kennedy

Family Son of John Kennedy

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£37,400

TypeDecade of saleAuction houseAttributionCurrency

90 results

Type	Details	Auction house	Sold	Price
Cello	Unlabelled Lot 10	Tarisio	March 2024	£37,400est. £ 30,000-50,000
Viola	Lot 94	Bonhams	May 2014	£5,250
Violin	35.9 cm London, 1842	—	October 2011	£7,500
Cello	73.8 cm London, 1808	—	October 2011	£27,500
Viola	38.6 cm London, 1813	—	March 2011	£4,500
Violin	35.4 cm London, 1815 c.	—	March 2011	£5,250
Cello	73.9 cm London, 1820 c.	—	October 2010	£18,750
Cello	74 cm London, 1819	—	October 2010	£12,500
Viola	39.2 cm London, 1845	—	December 2009	£2,400
Cello	76.2 cm Early 19th C. Workshop of	—	October 2009	£7,415
Cello	74.1 cm London, 1855 c.	—	October 2009	£8,125
Viola	41.7 cm 1820, c. Attributed to	—	March 2009	£7,020
Violin	35.1 cm London, 1830 c.	—	March 2009	£5,890
Cello	73.3 cm England, 1830 c.	—	March 2008	£11,875
Viola	39.1 cm London, 1836	—	March 2008	£8,400
Cello	74.1 cm London, 1810 c.	—	November 2007	£21,600
Violin	35.5 cm London, 1813	—	September 2007	£2,400
Violin	35.8 cm London, 1831	—	July 2007	£4,485
Cello	73.7 cm London, 1820 c. Attributed to	—	July 2007	£22,800
Violin	35.5 cm London, 1806 Possibly by	—	May 2007	£2,592
Cello	74.1 cm London, 1820 c.	—	February 2007	£12,000
Viola	39.5 cm London, 1800 c.	—	February 2007	£2,880
Violin	35.9 cm London, 1846	—	November 2006	£7,200
Cello	73.3 cm Workshop	—	October 2006	£10,104
Violin	35.5 cm London, 1806 Possibly by	—	October 2006	£2,146
Violin	35.8 cm London, 1831	—	July 2006	£4,995
Cello	74.1 cm London, 1830 c.	—	February 2006	£11,400
Viola	39.1 cm London, 1850 c.	—	November 2005	£2,400
Cello	1920 c. Workshop	—	October 2005	£5,021
Cello	1800 c.	—	May 2005	£9,600
Cello	London, 1804	—	May 2005	£6,000
Viola	38.3 cm London, 1810 c.	—	February 2005	£2,880
Violin	London, 1800 c. Ascribed to	—	November 2004	£6,572
Cello	London, 1810 c. Ascribed to	—	October 2004	£15,269
Viola	40.1 cm London, 1820 c.	—	May 2004	£7,170
Cello	London, 1820 c.	—	March 2004	£17,925
Violin	London, 1810 c.	—	March 2004	£8,365
Violin	1830	—	July 2003	£8,400
Cello	1810	—	April 2003	£7,469
Cello	1835	—	April 2003	£8,216
Violin	1831	—	March 2003	£7,800
Violin	1850 c.	—	June 2002	£3,774
Cello	1827	—	March 2002	£17,000
Cello	1846	—	June 2001	£17,700
Viola	39.0 cm 1845	—	June 2001	£6,000
Cello	1830	—	June 2001	£12,500
Violin	1830	—	March 2001	£3,220
Cello	1818 c.	—	November 2000	£13,800
Cello	1847	—	November 2000	£13,800
Cello	1814	—	November 1999	£13,800
Violin	1850	—	November 1999	£3,860
Cello	1843	—	November 1999	£8,280
Cello	1823	—	June 1999	£18,000
Cello	1830	—	November 1998	£27,600
Violin	1835 c.	—	June 1998	£5,175
Cello	1812	—	March 1997	£17,250
Cello	1833	—	June 1996	£16,100
Cello	1860	—	March 1996	£13,800
Cello	18--	—	November 1995	£17,250
Cello	18--	—	November 1995	£8,625
Violin	18--	—	November 1995	£805
Violin	1860 c.	—	October 1995	£3,450
Cello	18--	—	December 1994	£17,692
Cello	18--	—	November 1994	£16,100
Cello	1822	—	November 1994	£8,625
Violin	1844	—	November 1994	£4,025
Cello	1847	—	June 1994	£14,950
Viola	39.1 cm 1836	—	June 1994	£2,530
Violin	1831	—	March 1994	£5,750
Cello	1832	—	November 1993	£22,000
Violin	1840 c.	—	November 1993	£3,105
Cello	18--	—	October 1993	£12,650
Cello	1846	—	June 1993	£16,500
Violin	1833	—	November 1992	£2,640
Viola	39.1 cm 1836	—	November 1992	£2,530
Violin	1844	—	April 1991	£4,400
Violin	1800 c.	—	June 1990	£3,740
Viola	39.2 cm 18--	—	June 1990	£2,640
Violin	1844	—	March 1989	£3,520
Violin	1850 c.	—	March 1989	£2,200
Viola	39.4 cm 18--	—	October 1988	£990
Viola	38.4 cm 18--	—	April 1987	£1,540
Viola	39.2 cm 1850 c.	—	May 1986	£1,980
Violin	1831	—	November 1985	£2,750
Violin	1811	—	September 1985	£1,430
Viola	39.1 cm 1850-60	—	July 1984	£2,200
Violin	18--	—	April 1983	£1,650
Violin	18--	—	April 1983	£1,980
Viola	39.4 cm 1845	—	March 1983	£1,540
Violin	18--	—	November 1982	£2,640

Maker Overview

Life

Thomas Kennedy (1784-1870) was born on January 21, 1784, in London, UK, and passed away in 1870. He was the son and pupil of John Kennedy and was also apprenticed to Thomas Powell on June 17, 1795. For a period, he worked for William Forster (III) but established his own independent workshop from 1804 at 16 Princes Street, Westminster. Around 1813, Kennedy's shop relocated to 16 Nassau Street, and from 1816 to 1848, it was situated at 364 Oxford Street. He retired from business in June 1849, but continued to work from various addresses, including 4 Cummings Place, 4 King's Road, and 164 Pentonville Road. Thomas Kennedy was a prolific maker, and sources contain conflicting information regarding the total number of instruments produced; William Meredith Morris states he 'turned out at least two thousand instruments', while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff and Cecie Stainer indicate he 'had made 300 violoncelli und Geigen' or 'at least 300 violoncellos as well as other instruments' respectively. George Hart notes he 'probably made more instruments than any English maker, with the exception of Crask'. He continued to supply instruments to the firm of Goulding, D'Almaine & Co.

Characteristics

Workmanship: Thomas Kennedy's work varied in grade, ranging from unpurfled instruments with thin, dark varnish to distinguished and well-finished examples featuring a fine, transparent spirit varnish. William Meredith Morris notes that while the workmanship was generally good, the tone was not always of equal merit, sometimes being harsh and metallic.
Cello Model: His cellos are particularly well-known and are considered the most useful products of his workshop, typically made on a distinctive shortened Amati model with long middle bouts.
Materials and Varnish: An example cited by William Meredith Morris describes a violin with a birch back and yellow varnish.
Signing Practices: Most of his work is signed in pencil on the inner surface of the table, and occasionally in ink above the endpin on the lower ribs.
Bows: Bows originally featured open ivory frogs and were branded 'KENNEDY', 'Thos Kennedy / Maker / Nassau Street / Middlesex Hospital', or 'Thos. Kennedy Londini. 1860 Thos. Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street, London'.

Recorded labels

Bows originally with open ivory frogs, branded: KENNEDY Thos Kennedy
Maker
Nassau Street
Middlesex Hospital Thos. Kennedy Londini. 1860John Dilworth
Thos. Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street, LondonJohn Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Training: Thomas Kennedy was the son and pupil of John Kennedy and was also apprenticed to Thomas Powell. He worked for a period for William Forster (III).
Collaborators and Employees: In his independent workshop, he employed skilled individuals such as James Brown and later some of the best English bow makers, including Thomas Tubbs, James Dodd, and Edward Dodd. William Forster (IV) also made instruments for him around 1810, as did John Crowther.
Family Significance: was the most significant maker from the Kennedy family.
Prolific Output: George Hart suggests he made more instruments than any other English maker, with the exception of Crask, highlighting his substantial contribution to English instrument making.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

KENNEDY, Thomas Born 1784, died 1870 London UK. Son and pupil of John Kennedy, above. Also apprenticed to Thomas Powell. From 1802 working for William Forster (III), but established independently from 1804 at 16 Princes Street, employing James Brown and later some of the best English bow makers, including Thomas Tubbs, James Dodd, and Edward Dodd. William Forster (IV) also made instruments for him c.1810, as did John Crowther. In about 1813 Kennedy’s shop moved to 16 Nassau Street, and from 1816-1848 was at 364 Oxford Street. This shop then closed but Kennedy continued to work from various addresses: 4 Cummings Place, 4 King’s Road, and 164 Pentonville Road. Continued to supply instruments to the firm of Goulding, D’Almaine & Co, whose brand is sometimes found beneath the back button. Kennedy was a prolific maker, working in various grades, from quite poor unpurfled instruments with thin dark varnish to quite distinguished and well-finished examples with a fine transparent spirit varnish. His cellos are now best known, and the most useful products of his workshop, usually made on a distinctive shortened Amati model with long middle bouts. Most of his work is signed in pencil on the inner surface of the table, and occasionally in ink above the endpin on the lower ribs. Bows originally with open ivory frogs, branded: KENNEDY Thos Kennedy / Maker / Nassau Street / Middlesex Hospital Thos. Kennedy Londini. 1860 Thos. Kennedy Maker 364 Oxford Street, London [BVMA]

George Hart+

Son of the above. Probably made more instruments than any English maker, with the exception of Crask.

William Meredith Morris+

He was a prolific maker, and turned out at least two thousand instruments of all sizes. The workmanship is good all over, but the tone is not of equal merit, being often harsh and metallic. A violin with a birch back and yellow varnish had the following label : —

THOS. KENNEDY, LONDINI, 1860

Cecie Stainer+

b. Jan. 21, 1784, London ; d. 1870. Was a son of John Kennedy ; pupil of his father, also of Thomas Powell, to whom he was apprenticed June 17, 1795. He worked at times for William Forster (1764-1824), but his own workshop was first in Princes Street, Westminster, and then at 364, Oxford Street.
He retired from business in June, 1849, having made at least 300 violoncellos as well as other instruments; all his work was well and neatly finished.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Sohn von John K., erst Schüler seines Vaters, dann von Thomas Powell.
Eine Zeit lang arbeitete er bei William III. Forster und eröffnete hierauf in
der Princess Street, Westminster, seine eigene Werkstatt und verzog später
nach der Oxford Street No. 364. Als er sich 1849 zur Ruhe setzte, hatte er
300 Violoncelli und Geigen gemacht. Er war der Bedeutendste aus der Familie
Kennedy.

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