List of Tobin instruments explained

This is a list of Tobin string instruments made by members of the house of Richard Tobin. Many of the instruments made by Tobin and his son, George, are uncredited or branded under the names of their employers or other shops. Identification in such cases is based solely on the quality of craftsmanship, particularly of the scrolls.

Tobin instruments

Violins

This list has 13 entries.

YearLocationLOBProvenanceNotes
1789Dublin35.5 cmOne of the earliest known violins ever made by Tobin. Made while working for Thomas Perry in Dublin, possibly towards the end of his apprenticeship or thereafter. Labelled 'Made by Thos. Perry, 6 Anglesea Street, Dublin, No. 533, 1789'. Branded externally 'PERRY/DUBLIN' on the back below the button. Inscribed internally 'Richard Tobin Junior' on the inner table and inner bottom rib.[1]
WaterfordOne of the earliest known violins made independently by Tobin. Made while working in Waterford, where he is thought to have had family ties. Labelled 'Made by Richard Tobin, Mus. Instr. Maker, Waterford'.[2]
CorkMade while working for Bartholomew Murphy of Cork. Branded externally 'TOBIN/CORK' beneath the button. Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back. F-holes have exaggerated Perry styling.[3]
Cork34.8 cmBranded externally 'TOBIN/CORK' beneath the button. Consists of a one-piece front and one-piece back. In excellent working condition.[4] [5]
1810LondonAn unlabelled instrument (Cozio 104007). Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back.[6]
1813London35.8 cmLabelled 'Richard Tobin London 1813'. Consists of a one-piece front and one-piece back. In decent working condition.[7]
LondonAn unlabelled instrument (Cozio 104008). Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back.[8]
LondonLabelled 'Copy of the Maker's Inscription/written under the table of this/violin :—/MADE BY/RICHARD TOBIN,/LONDON,/1820.'. Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back.[9]
London35.0 cmMade for Lockey Hill of London. Consists of a one-piece spruce front and one-piece maple back with stop length 19.2 cm and string length of 32.7 cm.[10] [11]
London35.5 cmEmma PantelIn the collection of The Harrison-Frank Family Foundation. Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back with widths of 16.5 cm and 20.4 cm.[12]
London35.5 cmSold by Ingles & Hayday in November 2021 for £10,200 (Lot 109). Branded 'Tobin' internally on the back and on the bottom block. Consists of a one-piece front and a two-piece back.[13] [14]
1834London35.0 cmSold by Bonhams in November 2008 for £5,160 (Lot 118). Labelled 'Richard Tobin London 1834'. Consists of a one-piece front with golden brown varnish. In excellent working condition with minor blemishes.[15]
LondonSold by Sotheby's in March 2008 for £9,375 (Lot 6). Branded 'Tobin' internally on the back and by the tailpin. Consists of a one-piece front and a two-piece back. Sold with the certificate of W. E. Hill & Sons, London, dated 20 November 1957.[16]

Violas

This list has 5 entries.

YearLocationLOBProvenanceNotes
1810London38.4 cmSold by Phillips in September 2001 for £3,161.77 (Lot 40). Consists of a two-piece back, varnish of a brown colour. Minor restored blemishes only.[17] [18] [19]
London38.9 cmSold by Phillips in March 1991 for £2,860 (Lot 229).
London38.7 cmSold by Skinner in October 2007 for $5,875 (Lot 346). Stamped internally 'TOBIN, LONDON'. Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back.[20] [21]
London38.8 cmAn unlabelled instrument (Cozio 10059). Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back. Sold by J & A Beare in 1952.[22]
1820London38.9 cmLabelled 'Richard Tobin London 1820'. Consists of a two-piece front and two-piece back with red varnish. For sale by Ingles & Hayday (Lot 217) for £14,000-£18,000. Sold with certificate of J & A Beare, 12 February 2014.[23]

Cellos

This list has 2 entries.

YearLocationLOBProvenanceNotes
LondonFor sale by JP Guivier for £115,000. Consists of a one-piece front and two-piece back with double purfling.[24] [25]
1826LondonThomas MesaUsed to record soundtracks for the first movies ever created.[26]

Pochettes

This list has 1 entry.

Guitars

This list has 1 entry.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An Irish Violin by Thomas Perry, Dublin, 1789 . bonhams.com . Bonhams . 11 July 2023.
  2. Boydell . Brian . 2013 . Brian Boydell Dublin Music Trade Card Index . https://dublinmusictrade.ie/sites/default/files/cards/Tobin%2C%20Richard.%20copy.jpg . Dublin Music Trade . Dublin.
  3. Web site: Fine Violins . timtoftviolins.com . Tim Toft Violins . 12 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Violin by Richard Tobin Cork Ireland c. 1800 . stamellstring.com . Stamell Stringed Instruments . 18 April 2021.
  5. Web site: Irish Violin, Richard Tobin, Cork, c. 1800, branded externally TOBIN/CORK, length of back 349 mm, with case. . bidsquare.com . Bidsquare . 29 June 2023.
  6. Web site: Richard Tobin, 1810 . tarisio.com . . 29 June 2023.
  7. Web site: VINTAGE 4/4 VIOLIN LABELED RICHARD TOBIN 1813 . worthpoint.com . WorthPoint . 29 June 2023.
  8. Web site: Richard Tobin, c. 1820 . tarisio.com . . 29 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Rare Antique Violin by Richard Tobin London 1820 w/ Hard Geib Case & Acc. . eBay.com . . 29 June 2023.
  10. Web site: A Violin Richard Tobin, London, ca. 1820 (for Lockey Hill) . nowakviolins.co.uk . Steffen Nowak . 29 June 2023.
  11. Web site: Richard Tobin . philipbrownviolins.co.uk . Philip Brown Violins . 29 June 2023.
  12. Web site: Tobin . harrisonfrankfoundation.com . 23 May 2017 . The Harrison-Frank Family Foundation . 29 June 2023.
  13. Web site: A violin by Richard Tobin . ingleshayday.com . Ingles & Hayday . 29 June 2023.
  14. Web site: Richard Tobin (b 1777; fl London, 1798-1841) A violin london, circa 1830 . sothebys.com . Sotheby's . 29 June 2023.
  15. Web site: An English Violin of the Betts School, circa 1800 . lotsearch.de . LotSearch . 29 June 2023.
  16. Web site: Richard Tobin (b 1777; fl London, 1798-1841) A violin London, circa 1840 . sothebys.com . Sotheby's . 13 July 2023.
  17. Web site: Viola by Richard Tobin, London 1810 c . bromptons.com . Brompton's . 29 June 2023.
  18. Web site: Richard TOBIN . amati.com . Amati Auctions . 29 June 2023.
  19. Web site: Price History: Tobin, Richard . tarisio.com . . 29 June 2023.
  20. Web site: English Viola, Richard Tobin, London, c. 1820 . skinnerinc.com . Skinner . 29 June 2023.
  21. Web site: Viola by RICHARD TOBIN, London 1820 c. . bromptons.com . Brompton's . 29 June 2023.
  22. Web site: Richard Tobin, London, c. 1820 . tarisio.com . . 29 June 2023.
  23. Web site: A viola by Richard Tobin . ingleshayday.com . . 29 June 2023.
  24. Web site: Fine English cello by Richard Tobin circa 1820 . guivier.com . JP Guivier . 29 June 2023.
  25. Web site: Richard Tobin, London circa 1800 . adamwhone.co.uk . Adam Whone . 8 May 2021.
  26. Web site: MEET THOMAS MESA . springfieldsymphony.org . 24 February 2022 . Springfield Symphony . 29 June 2023.
  27. Web site: Dancing Master's Fiddle (Kit) attributed to Richard Tobin, London, ca. 1800-1815 . NMM Collections . . 18 April 2021.
  28. Web site: An English Guitar by Louis Panormo, London 1826 . bromptons.com . Brompton's . 29 June 2023.