Thomas Perry (violin maker)
Thomas Perry (c. 1744 - 1818) was a notable Irish violin maker.
Life
Perry was born in Dublin, the son of a Thomas Pierrie (also a violin maker, who died in 1771) working at Temple Bar. He was probably of Huguenot descent. By 1787 Perry had established his business in nearby Anglesea St. He numbered all his violins and is known to have made more than 3,000.[1]
As well as making first-class violins, Perry also made violas, cellos and at least one double-bass, some of which are in the collection of the National Museum of Ireland. He invented the cither-viol or sultana in the 1760s and was renowned for the quality and beauty of his instruments.[2] Tradition has it that Perry was able to copy an Amati lent to him by the Duke of Leinster, but his other models are of a more Tyrolean type or reminiscent of the work of Richard Duke in London.[3]
The violin maker Richard Tobin, who later set up business in London, became his apprentice and Vincenzo Panormo worked with Perry prior to moving to London. His pupils included violin makers Delany, Dollard, Mackintosh, Ringwood, Wheatley, and others. His eldest daughter married William Wilkinson (1771-1838), a cousin and pupil, and Wilkinson carried on the business after Perry's death until 1839.[2]
External links
References
- ↑ Flood, William Henry Grattan: A history of Irish music. Dublin, Brown and Nolan, 1906.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Irish Times, William Galland Stuart, 21 September 1973
- ↑ Brian W. Harvey: The Violin Family and its Makers in the British Isles, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1995. pp 183-185