Eldest son of Bernhard. Born in London, 1800. Worked under father at Bett’s establishment until 1823. Partner with Farn (a dealer in old violins) in Lombard Street. Started a business with George Purdy under the name of Purdy and Fendt, in Finch Street, 1832, had a branch establishment in the Haymarket, 1843, and finally at 74 Dean Street, Soho. Died in Smith Street, Brompton, 1852. One of the cleverest imitators of any country or period. Produced hundreds of Guarnerius replicas (his principal prototype) and many Strad models. Reproductions pure and simple, even to the label, but perfect of their kind, so perfect as to have subsequently deceived the keenest experts. Finer modelling cannot be conceived and his rapidity and cleverness in the workmanship is in every respect equal to the felicity of the design. Every resource of skill lay within his hands. Thicknessing of the plates based on the ideas of the old Cremona makers. Allegiance to the old scrolls also expressed with unshaken fidelity - fluting most effective. Spacious margins add to the grandeur of the elegant arching and outline. Purfling altogether of that standard attained by the Cremona makers. Finely full sides, and of handsome material. Never varying excellence of wood. Shades and texture of varnish equally resplendent, and his method of application, degrees of thickness, equality of surfacing etc., a perfect triumph of skill. Golden and deep orange tints of the Italians most luxuriously reproduced, also a transparent bright red. Tone of all-round richness, Italian quality, of very noticeable depth on the lower strings, and particularly brilliant in the higher register, the whole topped by an astonishing clearness. He has been termed the Prince of counterfeiters, and adversely criticised for hiding his great talent under unscrupulous labelling and passing them off as genuine Cremonas. But how do we know his exact circumstances? How can we rightly know his views on the matter? What a story he could no doubt tell relating to the gullibility of the public, and how many of its various members are rather prone to rush in and be deceived! However, there were times when he did not resist the impulse of inscribing his own name on his wonderful work, and he must have felt very proud of viewing it, as no doubt he was quite aware of his consummate skill, and the tone he heard from these violins when played upon from time to time by the many players who went to his shop, must have entranced his senses and filled his dreams with visions of Cremona fame.
Guarnerius modelled violas are possibly unsurpassed in tonal quality and appearance. Exhibited a fine quartet of instruments in Hyde Park, 1851, when the Crystal Palace was built for the International Exhibition. Measurements of the ’cello: body length, 29.15/16 inches; upper bouts, 13.10/16; middle, 9.8/16; lower, 17.9/16. Strad model, superb workmanship, most beautifully shaped sound-holes having a really fine sweep; brownish red varnish with deep orange undercoat. Several double-basses received ample justice at his hands, highly valued for their tonal quality (a particularly flexible one). Generally built on the light side but with no excessive thinning of the wood. Impossible to praise too highly the ingenuity displayed in the outline and workmanship of the Gasparo-da-Salo-like instruments. The varnish too (in all respects) a great achievement. Finally, many Guarnerian modelled violins with a glaring red varnish of a hard nature, and more or less indifferent workmanship, have been attributed to Fendt by certain dealers, but such opinions are not conclusive.
Eldest son of Bernhard. Born in London, 1800. Worked under father at Bett’s establishment until 1823. Partner with Farn (a dealer in old violins) in Lombard Street. Started a business with George Purdy under the name of Purdy and Fendt, in Finch Street, 1832, had a branch establishment in the Haymarket, 1843, and finally at 74 Dean Street, Soho. Died in Smith Street, Brompton, 1852. One of the cleverest imitators of any country or period. Prod...
Bernard (Bernhard)Simon,Fendt
