Arthur Edward SMITH
Highest auction price
£14,400
Auction price history
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Arthur Edward Smith, made in Sydney, 191..., further labelled Repaired by Arthur Edward ... | Mon 1st June 2020 | £14,400 |
| Violin | 1960 | Fri 1st November 1996 | £5,750 |
| Cello | 1909 | Sat 1st June 1996 | £12,075 |
| Violin | 1962 | Fri 1st March 1996 | £8,280 |
| Viola | 41.0 cm 1953 | Fri 1st March 1996 | £10,925 |
| Viola | 41.9 cm 1961 | Tue 1st November 1994 | £6,670 |
| Viola | 41.9 cm 1963 | Sat 1st June 1991 | £5,500 |
| Viola | 41.0 cm 1963 | Thu 1st May 1986 | £1,012 |
| Violin | 1959 | Tue 1st June 1982 | £1,944 |
Biographies
John Dilworth
SMITH, Arthur Edward Born 1880 Islington, London UK, died 1978 Sydney Australia. Self-taught maker of considerable achievement and influence. Trained as an engineer and an amateur violinist. Inspired by the Hill’s Stradivari, his Life and Work to take up violin making. Found work 1905-1909 with a local repairer and dealer C. W. Jefferies in Maldon. Completed about twenty violins and a quartet. Emigrated to Melbourne, Australia 1909. Worked briefly with C. Rothammer in San Francisco, USA 1912-1914. He continued an association with Rothammer in Sydney, Australia until Rothammer’s return to San Francisco in 1919 when Smith founded his independent business of A. E. Smith & Co Pty., Ltd at 69 Hunter Street. His shop became large and successful, moving to extensive premises at 9-11 Hunter Street in the 1930s, employing several craftsmen and importing instruments as well as making and restoring. Trained several leading Australian makers of the next generation, including C. Clarke, W. Dolphin. H. Vatilotis, and his daughter Kitty, below, who succeeded to the business. Developed string making also to ease the shortages in Australia during war-time. Awarded diploma of honour at the Hague 1949, and appointed M.B.E. by the British Government for services to music. Completed at least 250 instruments on good Stradivari and Guarneri models. Well-observed and beautifully made, but with distinct and honest personality. Excellent imported tone woods and a particularly fine and tender orange-brown oil varnish. Edward VII / no.3 A.E.Smith / Maldon / 1903 Made by / A. E. Smith for / Jeffreys & Sons / Maldon. Essex. No.. 1906 Edward VII / No. 8 A. E, Smith Maldon. 1901 Arthur E. Smith Sydney, 1924
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