HARDIE, Thomas Violin Maker
- Born: 14 February 1803, Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Died: January 1858 1
General Notes:
"HARDIE, THOMAS, Edinburgh: 1800-58. He was the son of the great Matt. Hardie, and possessed many of the fine qualities of his father. I have seen only three of his violins, in which the workmanship was beautiful, but the tone
very inferior. There is not the slightest doubt that he artificially seasoned his wood, hence the immense disparity
between the workmanship and the tone. His work has received high praise from no less an authority than the late
Charles Reade, but I cannot endorse any of the sentiments of the great connoisseur as regards Thomas Hardie's tone. I have heard better in many a common factory fiddle. The workmanship may be faultless, but if the 'vital spark' — the tone — be vile, the instrument deserves any name but that of 'violin.' Hardie had many rare gifts, but self-restraint does not appear amongst them. He met with his death through an accident, Jan. 19, 1858, whilst in a state of intoxication. Label : —
THOMAS HARDIE,
FECIT, EDINBURGH, ANI\\1G 1850 "
from British Violin makers classical and modern
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