Notable Sales: William Watson
William Watson was born in London in 1930 and lived in Hanwell, where the Hill workshops were established in 1887. He was introduced to the Hills by Arthur Bultitude in 1945, and he was trained by William Retford. After National Service in 1951-3, Watson returned to the workshop under Retford and Bultitude, and undertook the revival of the Hill trademark fleur-de-lys gold frog inlay. Retford left Hills in 1960 and Bultitude in the following year, making Watson the head of the bow workshop. However, following a disagreement with Desmond Hill, Watson himself left in 1962 to establish his own business from home in Hanwell, and then in Denham in Buckinghamshire from 1963. His last years were spent in Cornwall, but he remained a strong and paternal influence on modern British bow makers until his death in 2018
(London, b 1930 ; d 2018)
William Watson was born in London in 1930 and lived in Hanwell, where the Hill workshops were established in 1887. He was introduced to the Hills by Arthur Bultitude in 1945, and he was trained by William Retford. After National Service in 1951-3, Watson returned to the workshop under Retford and Bultitude, and undertook the revival of the Hill trademark fleur-de-lys gold frog inlay. Retford left Hills in 1960 and Bultitude in the following year, making Watson the head of the bow workshop. However, following a disagreement with Desmond Hill, Watson himself left in 1962 to establish his own business... Read more
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Tim Ingles and Paul Hayday will offer an initial evaluation of the authenticity and value of your instrument or bow. At this stage, the assessment is free and without obligation. In the first instance, we suggest submitting good-quality images to us, preferably by email to info@ingleshayday.com or by completing the valuation form.
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