Boarhills School
Andrew Mentiply
Boarhills, 1856–1918
Andrew Mentiply (1856-1918) was a Scottish amateur violin maker who, despite his primary profession as a joiner and railway worker, produced a significant number of violins, violas, cellos, and bows from around 1880. Active in Fife and later Glasgow, he developed a distinctive personal model characterized by a high arch, unique soundholes, and a deep-throated scroll. His work, noted for its fine workmanship and excellent tone, was continued by his son's music shop until 2003. Sources contain conflicting information about his birth year, the total number of instruments produced, and the quality of his varnish.
Maker Overview
Life
Andrew Mentiply (1856-1918) was born in Boarhills, Fife, Scotland, in 1856, though William Meredith Morris states his birth date as November 1, 1859, at Burnside, Boarhills, near St. Andrews. He died in Glasgow in 1918. Mentiply was apprenticed as a joiner and later worked on the railway. He was active in Ladybank and Gateside, Fife, before moving to Glasgow in 1915. He began working as a violin maker around 1880, pursuing it as an amateur maker in his free hours.
Characteristics
- Output
- Andrew Mentiply produced around 120 violins, violas, cellos, and bows. William Meredith Morris states he made over fifty violins, and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff mentions over 50 new violins and many bows.
- Models
- He employed fine workmanship on personal models. While some of his violins were based on Stradivari and Guarneri models, the majority were on an original model. This original model's outline and arching were strongly reminiscent of Joseph Guarneri, but with a more rounded outline, especially in the inner bouts or C's, and a more extended lower end.
- Arch and Soundholes
- His instruments featured a high arch and large, slightly eccentric soundholes set close to the edge. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff observed that his F-holes showed oval end points instead of circular ones. William Meredith Morris, however, considered the soundholes 'overdone and bordering on a caricature.'
- Scroll
- The scroll was likewise rather extreme with a very deep throat and strongly recurved chin as 'quaint and pleasing in effect.'
- Varnish
- John Dilworth describes a good rich oil varnish of deep red brown colour. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that he made his own oil varnish. However, William Meredith Morris states that the varnish was 'very indifferent' and suggested that with better varnishes, his work would rank among the best in Scotland.
- Workmanship and Tone
- William Meredith Morris praised his workmanship and tone as 'excellent.'
- Andrew A. Mentiply, Commercial Road
Ladybank
Fifeshire, March 1899John Dilworth - Manuscript label; Andrew A. Mentiply Ladybank. Fife. 7
2
99John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Family Business: His business was continued by his son John as the 'Mentiplay' music shop, which flourished in Kirkcaldy until 2003.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
MENTIPLY, Andrew Born 1856 Boarhills, Fife, died 1918 Glasgow, Scotland UK. Active in Ladybank and Gateside, Fife, then moving to Glasgow 1915. Apprenticed as a joiner and later worked on the railway. Active as a violin maker from about 1880. Produced around 120 violins, violas, cellos, and bows. The business was continued by his son John as the ‘Mentiplay’ music shop, which flourished in Kircaldy until 2003. Fine workmanship employed on personal models. High arch and large slightly eccentric soundholes set close to the edge. Scroll likewise rather extreme with very deep throat and strongly recurved chin. Good rich oil varnish of deep red brown colour. Printed label: Andrew A. Mentiply, Commercial Road / Ladybank / Fifeshire, March 1899 Manuscript label; Andrew A. Mentiply Ladybank. Fife. 7/2/99 [Rattray]
William Meredith Morris+
He was born at Burnside, Boarhills, near St. Andrews, Nov. 1, 1859. He is an amateur maker who displays so considerable an amount of ability and originality as to justify more than a passing notice of his work. He has made over fifty violins, a few of which are on the Stradivari and a few on the Guarneri models, but the majority of them are on an original model. The outline and arching of this original model are strongly reminiscent of those of Joseph, but the outline is more rounded, especially in the inner bouts or C’s, and the lower or broad end is more extended. The scroll and sound-holes also differ materially from those of the great classics, the former being quaint and pleasing in effect, but the latter overdone and bordering on a caricature. Mr. Mentiply’s intellectual orchard is exuberant in growth, but it wants pruning. The classics are not to be depreciated as a means of education, and much less as objects of worship. The workmanship and tone are excellent, but the varnish is very indifiTerent. If this maker exercised a little self-restriction and used better varnishes, he would turn out work that would rank beside the best produced in Scotland to-day.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Ein Eisenbahnbeamter, der sich in seinen freien Stunden mit dem Geigenmachen beschäftigt und über 50 neue Violinen und viele Bögen gemacht hat. Er hat ein eigenes Modell und macht sich auch den Öllack selbst. Seine F-Löcher zeigen die Endpunkte statt kreisrund in ovaler Form.
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