English Mahogany "Apostle" Violin Case, W.E. Hill & Sons

Description:

English Mahogany "Apostle" Violin Case, W.E. Hill & Sons, the lock stamped J.T. NEEDS/100 NEW BOND ST./LATE/J. BRAMAH/124 PICCADILLY, the domed lid inlaid with geometric pattern banding and fans to corners, the compartment lid inlaid with music-themed marquetry, approximate length of back 360 mm, ht. 5 1/16, wd. 30 3/4, dp. 10 1/16 in.

Provenance: The collection of Dr. Glenn P. Wood.

N.B. "The history of this Apostle case is fascinating and deserves this opportunity to memorialise it.

We can be certain this is a Hill Apostle art case dating to around 1890 by comparison with others known to us, but its recent history begins on 21 July, 2015, when the guy in England who ultimately sold it to me discovered it in a second hand furniture shop close to the Hill's Hanwell workshop near London. According to his account:

'I came by the case about five minutes after a chap in a secondhand furniture shop wrenched it open believing it to be a cutlery box (a very low and shop) hence the lock needs repairing! The lady who brought it into the shop said that her Grandfather made violins in London! The guy in the charity junk shop cranked it open leaving the top lock plate in the main lock. I refrained from screaming as I could see the quality of construction immediately and had a vague recollection of that kingfisher blue lining I had seen in a video on your YouTube last year when researching a Hill bow.

Ironically I live around 3 miles from great Missenden where Hills ended up later in their history.'

Note 1: 1874-1901 the Bramah lock company was owned by JT Needs & Co and held Royal warrants from Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. The locks of that period marked JT Needs & Co-100 New Bond St (late J. Bramah 124 Picadilly). 1904 The business name was changed back to Bramah & Co.

Note 2: The lock striker plate should not be reinstalled onto the lid unless there is a proven way of unlocking it.

Note 3: As far as I'm aware, this case is unique in the use of rare fiddle back mahogany to reflect the use of fiddle back maple on a violin."
G.P.W.
Estimate $4,000-6,000


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