HARBOUR, ---- London, 1785.
HARDIE, MATTHEW, Edinburgh, about 1820. Made some good instruments
which occasionally possessed great power, but not always very neat
finish.
HARDIE, THOMAS. Son of Matthew, Edinburgh, was also a good
workman--died in 1856, from accidentally falling down stairs.
HARE, JOSEPH, London, 1720, is said to have been the first in England
to introduce the flat model, all the makers before him and for some
time after, following the elevated model of Steiner. He also introduced
a varnish of greater transparency than was generally used at that time
in England.
HARRIS, CHARLES, London, about 1815.
HARRIS, CHARLES. Son of the above.
HART, JOHN, of Princes Street, Leicester Square, London, pupil of
Samuel Gilkes, is a maker; and restorer of instruments, in which latter
capacity we have pleasure in stating him to be worthy of the extensive
reputation he has acquired. He is also a great connoisseur in old
instruments, and has the honour of having formed most of the fine
collections in this country. The largest price ever given for a Violin
was for one imported by him and which from its beauty, model, varnish
and perfection of condition is known by the name of the King Joseph
Guarnerius. This instrument is considered quite unique and was sold for
700 guineas. The celebrated collection of Charles Plowden, Esq., which
embraces four fine instruments of Stradiuarius and four of Joseph
Guarnerius, and which is acknowledged to be the finest collection in
the world, was also formed by Mr. Hart. Mr. Plowden's taste being
highly cultivated, he rejects any instrument which is not of the very
highest order, and therefore it reflects great credit on Mr. Hart's
judgment to have succeeded in placing so many fine instruments in the
collection of so critical a connoisseur. We shall have occasion to
mention other celebrated instruments in the Chapters on the Great
Masters of the Art.
HASSERT, ---- Rudolstadt, 18th Century. Made instruments of a high
model, which though he used good wood and finished them carefully, did
not possess very good tone. Very few makers have succeeded in imparting
superior tone to high built instruments.
HASSERT, ----, Eisenach, 18th Century, brother of the above--adopted a
different system, and followed the flatter model of the Cremona School
with considerable success. His instruments are remarkable for beautiful
wood, and Otto speaks very highly of them, saying that many of them can
only be distinguished from the genuine Italians by experienced judges.
In the present day we think Otto was partial to his own countrymen's
work, and that there are very few German instruments which can be taken
for Italian by judges.
HEESOM, EDWARD, London, 1750.
HELMER, CHARLES, Prague, 1740. This artiste was a pupil of Eberle, and
is considered a careful workman, but used too light a bass bar, which,
unless a stronger one be substituted, depreciates the character of his
instruments.
HILDEBRANT, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER, Hamburg, 1765. Esteemed as a good
maker.
HILL, WILLIAM, London, 1740. Made some good instruments, but they are
said to be deficient in quality in consequence of being built on a
wrong principle, the centres having too little wood.
HILL, JOSEPH, London, 1770, brother of the above. Reckoned a superior
maker to his brother, and produced some very excellent Violoncellos
which obtained him a good reputation, and caused him to be classed high
among English makers, but like the others, he is now depreciated in
value below his real merits.
HIRCUTT, ---- English maker, about 1600.
HOFFMAN, MARTIN, Leipsic, is said to be chiefly known as a skilful lute
maker. His Tenors are considered good, and Otto says his violins have
an excellent quality of tone when unspoiled, but are not esteemed on
account of their ungraceful appearance.
HOLLOWAY, J., London, 1794.
HORIL, ---- (Italian) about 1720.
HULLER, AUGUSTINE, Shoeneck, 1775.
HUME, RICHARD, Edinburgh. An early English lute maker; about 1530.
HUNGER, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK, Leipsic, 1787. A good maker who followed
the Italian style, used good wood and amber varnish. This maker is
classed among the superior German artistes, and his instruments are
said to be beautiful.