David Laurie

David Laurie (b.Netherton 1833 - d. Brussels 1897) - was a distinguished 19th century violin collector (known worldwide, as good friend of J.

[2] He was an oil merchant, as well as an amateur violinist, though his passion was fiddle collecting which eventually changed to his livelihood.

[2] "...I will now relate the purchase and sale of a grand Stradivarius violin, which while giving me a good deal of trouble one way and another, also brought me fame as a reliable expert.

Instruments by the same maker have invariably certain characteristics of his handiwork, which while unnoticed by ordinary folk, reveal them at once to the expert.

The third gift is not considered by any means necessary to the making of an expert, yet I think I am justified in saying that a good ear plays an important part in the work and is a valuable gift, which ought to be cultivated and developed to its utmost, if it were for nothing else than to be able to distinguish one tone from another and to decide which has the best carrying power and which is in most repute with the majority of musical folk, artistes and amateurs alike.

For after all, to the great majority of concert-goers the tone of a violin is the most important part of it, and they neither know nor care who the maker is so long as the player delights them with its music.