London School
James Preston
London, worked 1724–1770
Established at 9 Banbury Court, Long Acre and the Strand 1724-1770. Presumed to have been a dealer and tradesman rather than a maker. Decent London trade work bears his label: coarse work and cheap materials with dark red-brown varnish. Some better cellos; also guitars. Labels both manuscript and pr\u{2026} — John Dilworth
Instruments
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 35.6 cm London, 1750 c. | December 2009 | £540 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm | October 2009 | £312 |
| Cello | London, 1800 c. [Attributed to] | May 2005 | £4,200 |
| Violin | London, 1760 c. Baroque (repairs) | February 2004 | £428 |
| Violin | London Original neck (many cracks) | February 2004 | £290 |
| Violin | 1800 c. | July 2003 | £1,200 |
| Violin | 1750 c. | November 1997 | £805 |
| Cello | 17-- | June 1994 | £1,980 |
| Cello | 17-- | March 1994 | £3,300 |
| Cello | 1780 | June 1991 | £5,720 |
| Cello | 1760 c. | February 1990 | £1,705 |
| Violin | 1760 c. | November 1989 | £1,540 |
| Violin | 1750-75 | March 1989 | £1,980 |
| Violin | 17-- | September 1986 | £198 |
| Cello | 1760 c. | May 1986 | £1,078 |
| Cello | 1750 c. | March 1986 | £2,860 |
| Violin | 1750 c. | April 1985 | £605 |
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
PRESTON, James Worked circa. 1724-1770 London UK. Established at 9 Banbury Court, Long Acre and the Strand 1724-1770. Presumed to have been a dealer and tradesman rather than a maker. Decent London trade work bears his label: coarse work and cheap materials with dark red-brown varnish. Some better cellos; also guitars. Labels both manuscript and printed: Preston, maker / 97 Strand, London
Cecie Stainer+
A maker in London about 1724. In a guitar of small size was the label: ” Preston, maker, London.”
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er wohnte Strand No. 97. Seine Arbeit ist namentlich bei Geigen sehr mittelmässig; auch zum Boden nahm er Tannenholz und verwandte rothbraunen Spirituslack. Eine kleine Guitarre von ihm besass Snoeck. Ob der Londoner Preston mit dem in York identisch war, steht nicht fest, ist aber wahrscheinlich. In London hat er sich zuletzt nur mehr auf den Handel verlegt und in fremde Arbeiten seinen Zettel geklebt.
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Working in London at the same time
Alexander Kennedy worked 1730–1785
Arthur (I) Betts worked 1763–1765
Barak Norman 1651–1724
Barton worked 1768–1779
David Furber 1720–1787
Ditton worked 1700
Edmund Aireton 1720–1807