elative, Samuel Gilkes, as his
assistant. He never aimed at producing a counterpart of the instrument
that he copied by resorting to the use of deleterious means to
indicate upon the surface of an instrument the ravages of time. He
faithfully copied the form, and thus did what Lupot was doing at the
same period. The finish of these instruments is excellent, and as they
are covered with a good quality of varnish, they have every
recommendation of appearance.

HARRIS, Charles. Son of the above. Neat workmanship. Well-cut scroll.
Sound-holes not well formed. Yellow varnish. Worked for a short time
for John Hart.

[Illustration: _Plate XVIII_. GIUSEPPE GUARNERI DEL GESU. (THE
"VIEUXTEMPS.") ANTONIO STRADIVARI (INLAID). Date 1687. (FROM THE
PLOWDEN COLLECTION.)]

HART, John Thomas, born December 17, 1805, died January 1, 1874.

John Hart,
Maker,
14, Princes Street, Leicester Square,
London. Anno 18--

He was articled to Samuel Gilkes in May, 1820, of whom he learned the
mechanical branch of his profession. He afterwards centred his
attention upon the peculiar characteristics of the Cremonese and
Italian Violin-makers generally, and in a comparatively brief space of
time obtained an extensive acquaintance in that direction. His
unerring eye and powerful memory of instruments once brought under his
notice secured for him the highest position among the connoisseurs of
his time. Commencing business at a period when the desire to possess
instruments by the famous Italian makers was becoming general among
amateurs, and being peculiarly fortunate in securing an early
reputation as a judge of them, he became the channel through which the
greater part of the rare Italian works passed into England, and it has
frequently been said that there are very few distinguished instruments
in Europe with which he was unacquainted. Among the remarkable
collections that he brought together may be mentioned that of the late
Mr. James Goding, the remnant of which was dispersed by Messrs.
Christie and Manson in 1857; the small but exquisite collection of Mr.
Charles Plowden, consisting of four Violins of Stradivari and four of
Guarneri, with other instruments of less merit, the whole of which
again passed into Mr. Hart's possession upon the death of their owner;
and, lastly, a large portion of the well-known collection of the late
Mr. Joseph Gillot, sold by Christie and Manson shortly after the
famous sale of pictures belongi