View source for John Mackintosh (luthier)

{{short description|Irish luthier}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name             = John Mackintosh
| honorific_suffix =
| image            = Mackintosh_Violin.png
| alt              =
| caption          = Violin by Mackintosh, {{circa|1817}}
| native_name      = Seán Mac an Taoisigh
| native_name_lang = ga
| birth_name       =
| birth_date       = {{circa|1780}}
| birth_place      =
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1841|1780|}}
| death_place      = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| resting_place    =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality      =
| education        = [[Thomas Perry (luthier)|Thomas Perry]]
| known_for        = [[Luthier]], [[author]]
| notable_works    = violin, [[National Museum of Ireland|NMI]] collection
| style            = {{Flatlist|
* Amati style
* Guarneri style
* Stradivari style}}
| movement         = [[Template:The Irish violin-making school|Irish school]]
| spouse           =
| children         = Robert J. Mackintosh (son)
| awards           =
| website          =
| module           =
}}
'''John Mackintosh''' ({{langx|ga|Seán Mac an Taoisigh}}; {{circa|1780}}–1841) was a [[luthier]], [[author]] and maker of [[violins]] from [[Dublin]].<ref name="Teahan">{{cite journal |last=Teahan |first=John |date=May 1963 |title=A List of Irish Instrument Makers |journal=[[The Galpin Society Journal]] |volume=16 |pages=28–32 |doi=10.2307/841092 |jstor=841092}}</ref><ref name="Boydell">{{cite archive |first=Brian |last=Boydell |collection=Brian Boydell Dublin Music Trade Card Index |collection-url=https://dublinmusictrade.ie/sites/default/files/cards/Mackintosh%2C%20John%20%281%29.%20copy.jpg |institution=Dublin Music Trade |location=Dublin}}</ref> Towards the end of his career, he wrote a short publication on violin making and the [[Cremona|Cremonese]] school, where he claims to have rediscovered their forgotten technique of [[wood preservation]].<ref name="Mackintosh">{{cite book |last=Mackintosh |first=John |date=1837 |title=Remarks on the Construction and Materials Employed in the Manufacture of Violins |page=12 |location=Dublin |publisher=Martin Keene & Son}}</ref> One of his violins is preserved as part of a collection at the [[National Museum of Ireland]], Dublin.<ref name="Gogan">{{cite book |last=Gogan |first=L.S. |editor-last=Fleischmann |editor-first=Aloys |date=1952 |title=Music in Ireland: a Symposium |chapter=Musical Instrument Collections in the National Museum of Ireland |page=303 |location=Cork |publisher=Cork University Press}}</ref>
==Early life==
Very little is known about Mackintosh's early life. While it is well documented that he spent most of his teenage and adult life living and working in [[Dublin]],<ref name="Teahan"/><ref name="DMT">{{cite web |url=https://dublinmusictrade.ie/node/272 |title=Mackintosh, John |website=dublinmusictrade.ie |publisher=Dublin Music Trade |access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref> it is thought by some that he was born in Scotland.<ref name="Rice">{{cite thesis |last=Rice |first=John Kenneth |date=1993 |title=The Life and Work of Thomas Perry |type=Doctorate |page=57 |publisher=[[St Patrick's College, Maynooth]]}}</ref> However, this may be a mistake due to the existence of two other Scottish luthiers named John Macintosh (spelled without a 'k') that flourished in Scotland in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://amati.com/maker/macintosh-john |title=John Macintosh |website=amati.com |publisher=Amati Auctions |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://amati.com/maker/macintosh-john-1 |title=John Macintosh |website=amati.com |publisher=Amati Auctions |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
==Career==
===Apprenticeship and early career: 1808–1819===
Mackintosh began his training as a [[luthier]] in Dublin in the early 19th century. He was apprenticed to Dublin maker [[Thomas Perry (luthier)|Thomas Perry]] at 6 Anglesea Street between 1808 and 1817.<ref name="Rice"/><ref name="Stainer">{{cite book |last=Stainer |first=Cecie |date=1896 |title=A Dictionary of Violin Makers |location=London |publisher=[[Wise Music Group#Novello & Co|Novello, Ewer & Co.]]}}</ref> Perry's workshop was well established by this time and had seen notable makers such as [[James Perry (luthier)|James Perry]], [[Richard Tobin (luthier)|Richard Tobin]], [[John Delany (luthier)|John Delany]] and [[Vincenzo Panormo]] pass through its doors. At this point, Perry had been in partnership with his nephew and former apprentice, William Wilkinson, since 1789 and the firm was known as Perry & Wilkinson. [[William Ringwood]], another notable maker, had been working there since 1783 and was an associate of the firm at this time.<ref name="Rice"/> Mackintosh is believed to have been Perry's last apprentice, as Perry died the following year in November, 1818.<ref name="Rice"/>
Following his apprenticeship to Perry, Mackintosh set up his own workshop at 1 Essex Quay, Dublin, in 1817.<ref name="Boydell"/> Mackintosh's choice of address was likely not haphazard; there were various skilled craftsmen, such as watchmakers, clockmakers and other musical-instrument makers on the quay during first half of the 19th century.<ref name="Donnelly">{{cite journal |last=Donnelly |first=Seán |date=March 2002 |title=A century of pipemaking, 1770-1870: new light on the Kennas and the Coynes |journal=The Seán Reid Society Journal |volume=2 |page=17 |url=http://www.seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/a%20century%20of%20pipe-making.pdf |access-date=23 April 2021}}</ref> Probably the most notable craftsman to work on Essex Quay was Dublin [[medallist]] [[William Mossop]] (1751–1804), who resided at 13 Essex Quay from 1784, where his son, also William (1788–1827), succeeded him. In fact, it is believed that Mackintosh shared his premises with a [[uileann pipes|pipemaker]] named Timothy Kenna, who had earlier succeeded his father's business on Essex Quay.<ref name="Donnelly"/> Mackintosh worked at 1 Essex Quay up until 1819.<ref name="Boydell"/>
===Experimentation and later career: 1819–1841===
In 1819, Mackintosh moved to 10 Essex Quay, where he worked until 1824.<ref name="Teahan"/><ref name="Boydell"/> Around the same time, John Dollard, another former apprentice of Perry's, moved to 15 Essex Quay. In 1825, Mackintosh moved to 11 [[Aston Quay]], where he remained until 1834.<ref name="Teahan"/><ref name="Boydell"/> This was another area where notable Dublin luthiers had previously resided, such as 18th century maker [[George Ward (luthier)|George Ward]]. From 1834 onwards, Mackintosh resided at 12 Lower Ormond Quay with his eldest son, Robert J. Mackintosh, a professor of music and accomplished [[violinist]].<ref name="Teahan"/><ref name="Joly">{{cite book |last=Joly |first=Jaspar Robert |date=Jan–Dec 1841 |title=The Native Music of Ireland |pages=106–108 |location=Dublin |publisher=Samuel J. Machen}}</ref> [[Brian Boydell]] suggests that John Mackintosh too was a professor of some description.<ref name="Boydell"/> However, this may have been confused for his son's profession, as John Mackintosh is only ever listed in directories as a 'Violin Maker' or 'Musical Instrument Maker'. In an 1841 publication titled ''The Native Music of Ireland'', John Mackintosh is described as "a musical instrument maker of considerable celebrity in this city", which suggests that he was well known throughout Dublin City for his ability as an violin maker.<ref name="Joly"/>
[[File:Mackintosh book cover.jpg|200px|thumb|upright|Front cover of Mackintosh's 1837 publication on violin making]]
In 1837, Mackintosh published a short book on violin making titled ''Remarks on the Construction and Materials Employed in the Manufacture of Violins''. In the book, he deals with the topics of [[wood]], [[Tone (musical instrument)|tone]], [[Bridge (instrument)|bridge]] and [[sound post]], and the [[Cremona|Cremonese]] school. In particular, he stresses the importance of choosing good quality, mature timber with pores of a certain size and formation that have been dried and cleaed through a natural process. Furthermore, he states that age is not necessary to produce a good instrument and that violins as good as those of the Cremonese school can be achieved by contemporary makers with the correct approach.<ref name="Mackintosh"/> Mackintosh continued to work at Lower Ormond Quay until his death in 1841.<ref name="DMT"/> John Dilworth suggests that he worked in Dublin up until 1839, and died in Dovecotland, [[Perthshire]], Scotland in 1850.<ref name="amati">{{cite web |url=https://amati.com/maker/macintosh-john-2 |title=John Macintosh |website=amati.com |publisher=Amati Auctions |access-date=4 July 2023}}</ref> This is consistent with accounts from other experts that have said that he moved back to Scotland in 1840 to become a recluse. Whereas Boydell suggests that he died in Dublin in 1840<ref name="Boydell"/> However, there is evidence of Mackintosh residing at Lower Ormond Quay until at least 1841 in the Post Office Directory. If he did in fact return to Scotland after retiring, this would support the theory that he was originally Scottish. His son Robert continued to live at 12 Lower Ormond Quay up until at least 1842.
==Style and technique==
Mackintosh's style was typical of the later Irish school and heavily influenced by the Cremonese style of violin making. During his apprenticeship, he learned to make violins based on the [[Amati]] model, which his teacher, Perry, had by then adopted in favour of the earlier [[Jacob Stainer|Stainer]] model. Perry is said to have studied directly from an Amati instrument lent to him by the [[Duke of Leinster]].<ref name="Morris 2">{{cite book |last=Morris |first=William Meredith |date=1920 |title=British Violin Makers |edition=2 |location=London |publisher=[[Pelican Publishing]]}}</ref> Additionally, Mackintosh would typically brand his violins externally at the back below the button 'MACKINTOSH/DUBLIN', a signature of the Irish school.
Mackintosh based his violins broadly on Italian models, including [[Amati]], [[Stradivari]] and [[Guarneri]].<ref name="Rice"/> In his 1837 publication, Mackintosh states that he had studied each of these makers in great detail, particularly Stradivari, of whom he had several instruments pass through his hands.<ref name="Mackintosh"/> Mackintosh also experimented greatly in pursuit of replicating the old Italian masters' instruments. He states that he tried "steaming, steeping, stoving, boiling, and baking the timber", as well as using "all kinds of spirits, caustics, and acids" but that "these disorganised the pores and impaired the fibres of the timber".<ref name="Mackintosh"/> He also states that he discovered the process by which such instruments could be achieved, and that 16 years earlier he had produced "three violins of timber which had been in a certain situation for a particular purpose" which were since reported by their owners to be as good as any Cremona instrument.<ref name="Mackintosh"/> This would suggest that he made such instruments around 1821 whilst working at 10 Essex Quay.
{{The Irish violin-making school}}
==Extant instruments==
It is unknown how many instruments Mackintosh produced in his lifetime as they were not numbered. One of his violins is preserved in the [[National Museum of Ireland]] as part of a collection of musical instruments by Irish makers.<ref name="Gogan"/> The collection also includes instruments by other 18th and 19th century luthiers including Mackintosh's teacher, [[Thomas Perry (luthier)|Perry]], as well as [[John Delany (luthier)|John Delany]], [[Thomas Molyneux (luthier)|Thomas Molyneux]] and [[George Ward (luthier)|George Ward]].<ref name="Gogan"/>
Some of Mackintosh's extant instruments:
{{Incomplete list|date=April 2021}}
===Violins===
{|class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=95%; font-size: 95%;"
|-
! width="10%"| Year
! width="15%"| Location
! width="10%"| LOB
! width="65%"| Notes
|- valign="top"
|align=center|
|Dublin
|
|In the [[National Museum of Ireland]] collection.<ref name="Hogan">{{cite book |last=Hogan |first=Ita Margaret |date=1966 |title=Anglo-Irish Music 1780–1830 |pages=106–108 |location=Brighton |publisher=[[Cork University Press]]}}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|align=center|
|Dublin
|
|In the [[Royal Irish Academy of Music]] collection.<ref name="Boydell"/>
|- valign="top"
|align=center|
|Dublin
|
|Branded 'McIntosh of Dublin'.<ref name="Woodcock">{{cite book |last=Woodcock |first=C |date=1972 |title=Universal Dictionary of Violin & Bow Makers: Price Guide Supplement 1971–72 |page=ix |location=Brighton |publisher=Amati Publishing}}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|align=center|1815
|Dublin
|
|One of the earliest known instruments made by Mackintosh. Made while working for Perry in Dublin during his apprenticeship or shortly thereafter. Sold in September 1992 for £528.<ref name="amati"/>
|- valign="top"
|align=center|{{circa|1817}}
|Dublin
|35.6&nbsp;cm
|Labelled 'Made by John Mackintosh, No. 1 Essex Quay, Dublin' and branded 'MACKINTOSH' at the back below the button. Consists of a two-piece front of medium grained pine and a two-piece back of medium curled maple descending from the joint with golden amber varnish and inked purfling. The plates are rather thick with quite low arching. Based on the Amati model.<ref name="Rice"/>
|- valign="top"
|align=center|{{circa|1830}}
|Dublin
|
|Branded 'MACKINTOSH/DUBLIN' at the back below the button. Consists of a two-piece front and a two-piece back with golden brown varnish and inked purfling.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.justanswer.com/musical-instrument-appraisal/7jssq-violin-bow-made-john-mackintosh-dublin.html |title=I have a violin and bow made by John Mackintosh in Dublin |website=justanswer.com |publisher=Just Answer |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|align=center|{{circa|1830}}
|Dublin
|
|Advertised for sale in ''Musical Canada'' by [[R. S. Williams & Sons]], [[Toronto]] in 1913 for $100. Consists of a two-piece front and a two-piece back of flamed  maple with sides and scroll to match and dark brown varnish.<ref>{{cite book |last=Parkhurst |first=Edwin R |date=1972 |title=Musical Canada: A Monthly Journal of Musical News and Comment |page=39, 75 |location=Toronto |publisher=Musical Canada}}</ref>
|}
==Publications==
* Mackintosh J. (1837) ''Remarks on the Construction and Materials Employed in the Manufacture of Violins''. Dublin: Martin Keene & Son.
==See also==
*[[Thomas Perry (luthier)]]
*[[William Ringwood]]
==References==
{{Reflist|3}}
==External links==
* [https://www.dublinmusictrade.ie/node/272 John Mackintosh] on Dublin Music Trade
* [https://dublinmusictrade.ie/sites/default/files/cards/Mackintosh%2C%20John%20%281%29.%20copy.jpg John Mackintosh] on [[Brian Boydell]] Card Index
* [https://tarisio.com/cozio-archive/browse-the-archive/makers/maker/?Maker_ID=2975 John Macintosh] on [[Tarisio Auctions|Tarisio]]
* [https://amati.com/maker/macintosh-john-2 John Macintosh] on Amati
* [https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2930778 Catalogue of Mackintosh's 1837 publication] at [[National Library of Australia]]
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[[Category:1841 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Irish businesspeople]]
[[Category:Bowed string instrument makers]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from County Dublin]]
[[Category:Irish luthiers]]
[[Category:Irish musical instrument makers]]