AGENCY SALE of AS01/ 63. English, circa 1909 4/4 violin. Label: ‘Charles L Tweedale, Weston. Anno 1909. Brithunus’. Sound sample.

Two piece back of highly figure maple. Sides and neck to match. Front of medium grain spruce, widening at flanks. Double purfling on front and back. Maggini-style f holes. Red-brown oil varnish.  Ebony pegs and Wittner tailpiece.

Additionally, the label has a photo of Charles L  Tweedale  and states ‘EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT COMES FROM ABOVE, COMMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS’.  This is a version of a Bible quotation from  James 1:17

Charles Lakeman Tweedale  was the Anglican Vicar of  Weston, North Yorkshire.  He was a convinced spiritualist and in the early 1920s founded the Society of Communion for spiritualist members of the Church of England.  In his book, ‘News from the Next World’ (1940) he recounts a number of manifestations from Stradivarius where, he revealed to Tweedale him the ‘secrets’ of violin-making.  A conscientious maker, his making received positive reviews from professional players  in his time.  A number of his violins were, as with this one, given unusual names.

Brithunus, was the name of the first abbot, of nearby Beverley Minster.