A fine English violin made by Charles Harris (1791 – 1851) in London c.1820.

“Charles Harris was born the son of a violin maker, with whom he trained. Following a fortuitous inheritance, he ascended to the aristocracy at the age of 37 and left violin making behind for more glamorous pursuits until he squandered his fortune in the mid 1830s. It was around this time that Harris seems to have taken up his craft again, and came into contact with William Ebsworth Hill. After the death of his father in 1835, Henry Lockey, W.E. Hill was evidently in need of additional guidance and traveled to Oxford to study with Harris. Thus, despite his checkered association to the craft, Harris indirectly influenced late 19th and 20th century British violin making, and his signed instruments that date from this period show fine workmanship that can be reminiscent of Gagliano.”

The violin has a very striking Italian look, due to the fine, transparent red varnish over deeply flamed golden brown maple and fine spruce, Cremonese style construction and masterful eye for detail. With a slightly shorter string length, it is phenomenally easy to play.

Tonally it is very elegant, with a fine, strong but sweet E string. With Pirastro Obligatos the lower strings sound confident and warm, transitioning effortlessly to the higher register. It speaks incredibly well with a wonderful golden core to the sound.