Few fine stringed instrument shops can match the comprehensive expertise and craftsmanship of W.E. Hill & Sons. Renowned for their exceptional violin bows, cellos, and violins, this London-based firm has left an indelible mark on musicians, collectors, and scholars alike.
W.E. Hill & Sons is celebrated for their fine violin bows, fine cellos, and violins crafted during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Auctioneers frequently highlight the firm's restoration work and scholarship on the Stradivarius and Guarneri luthier families. Their violin cases, known for intricate craftsmanship and beauty, are unparalleled.
The firm's ability to cater to diverse perspectives—from musicians to collectors and scholars—speaks volumes about their expertise. They were adept in various aspects of stringed instrument craftsmanship, a rarity in the industry.
W.E. Hill & Sons' commitment to excellence extended to making their own tools, enabling them to excel in bow making. The market values their bows highly; for instance, in 2017 and 2018, viola, cello, and violin bows sold for between $1,298 and $18,788 at auctions. Instruments fetched even higher prices, with cellos selling for up to $54,000 and violins for as much as $26,400. Auction houses like Tarisio, Freeman’s Auctions, Bonhams, Skinner, and Ingles & Hayday have handled their work.
| Year | Instrument Type | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Cello | $54,000 |
| 2018 | Violin | $26,400 |
| 2018 | Violin | $23,600 |
| 2018 | Violin | $16,851 |
| 2018 | Violin | $16,571 |
Established in 1887 on London's fashionable New Bond Street, W.E. Hill & Sons thrived during the Victorian era, a time when English fine stringed instruments were considered superior to their French counterparts. The firm also produced elaborate, ornate violin cases, one of which sold for $17,220 in 2016. This case was part of the fabled "12 Apostles," a series of only twelve cases made between 1887 and 1895, commissioned to house a Stradivarius. These cases featured exotic wood inlays, brass hardware, and fine paper linings.
W.E. Hill & Sons was also renowned for their work with damaged instruments and their expertise in identification and authentication. The firm handled at least three Stradivariuses: the Alard, the Messiah, and the Lipinski.
In 2016, the Bate Collection at the University of Oxford honored the firm's legacy with a special exhibit titled "Fiddle Sticks: The Story of Bow Making at Hills Violin Experts." The exhibit featured 17 bows made over 75 years, bow-making tools, moulds, a recreated workshop, a short film, biographies of acclaimed luthiers, and several photographs.
The firm was dissolved in 1992, concluding over a century of fine craftsmanship, investigative authentication, and restoration work. Today, almost everything W.E. Hill & Sons touched carries great respect and value.
For more information on the history and impact of W.E. Hill & Sons, you can visit The Strad and Tarisio.
W.E. Hill & Sons' legacy of quality and vision continues to inspire and set the standard in the world of fine stringed instruments.
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