biography_square button_minus button_plus close_artbutton exhibitionarrow_left exhibitionarrow_right follow_button home_sq-artefacetsViewArtefacts home_sq-exhibitionViewExhibitions home_sq-sqaureSupportUs home_sq-uploadUploadArtefact artist dj keyword_3 industry keyword_member magglass newburger onthisday_button profileicon randomiser_button reload_button soundcloud twitter uploadbutton zoom_in
In the last 30 days the archive has grown by 52 new artefacts, 30 new members, 12 new people and places.
Donate

Details

Added 5th November 2024 by rncmarchives

Featured in the following Online Exhibitions:
RNCM Archives

Artefact

Photograph
John Shaw
1901

John Shaw (b ca.1848 Manchester), lived in Hulme (1881 at 52 Percy Street, when his occupation was that of carpenter; 1891 at 90 Walnut Street as joiner, musician and violin maker; 1895 onwards at 136 Great Jackson Street as violin maker) and was a double bass player as well as instrument maker and repairer. Around 1900, Josiah Chapman (collector and inventor in Manchester's photography and camera-making) lent his wife's Stradivari Piccolo violin (hopefully with her knowledge?) to Shaw so that he could make a mini model. In 1901, this little beauty was presented to the Chapmans, practically perfect in every way. It even has a small silver casket hidden in the little well near the head stock which contains spare strings - as if you'd ever need them. This model and the original Stradivari are part of the college's instrument museum.
There were a consistent handful of luthiers in Manchester making violins and guitars, since the mid-1800s. The RNCM continued that tradition for decades, with a residential luthier and later, during the annual strings festival, you could walk along the concourse by the big windows outside the concert hall and see a cello being made by a team of luthiers in real time.

Digitised for the Throwing Open the Concert Doors project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Share:

Latest Discussion

If you'd like to leave a comment, please Login