John Dilworth
LEWIS, Edward (I) Worked from 1687, died 1717 London UK. Worked on London Bridge and later at the sign of the Harp in St Paul’s Alley. Violins, cellos, and viols. Workmanship of the Nathaniel Cross school with yellow or brown varnish. ‘Bass violin’ and ‘tenor’ listed in the catalogue of Thomas Britton 1714. Edward Lewis / fecit, London Bridge, 1704 Edward Lewis / in St. Paul Allay in London, 1687 Edward Lewis at / The Harp in St Paul’s / Ally in London 1702 Edward Lewis att / The Harp in St / pauls Ally in / London. 1703 [BVMA]
George Hart
The work is well executed throughout, and the varnish superior.
William Meredith Morris
A magnificent maker, whose work is very rare. In the course of twenty-five years’ connoisseurship I have seen only one of his violins, which was on a model approximating to that of Maggini. In this instrument, wood, workmanship, and tone combined to give the maker a high position in the front rank of our early makers. The varnish was an oil one, of a rich golden-red colour, perfectly transparent, and soft as velvet to the touch. The tone on the higher strings was beautifully clear and brilliant. I have never heard of a violin of his on the Stainer model, and I do not think he copied that maker at all. Judging from the single instance referred to, I do not think his taste would allow him to imitate the German high arch.
No label of his is known.
Cecie Stainer
A maker in London about 1700. His work was most excellent, showing great accuracy and finish ; he used good wood and very fine varnish, generally a light yellow colour, but sometimes red with golden ground.
His violins are rare, but are very beautiful. In Thomas Britton’s Collection was an “excellent tenor by Mr Lewis” and a ” rare good” bass-violin.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff
Ein hervorragend tüchtiger und auch bei seinen Zeitgenossen hochangesehener
Geigenmacher. Seine Arbeit ist tadellos, wie sein Holz; auch sein meist hellgelber,
manchmal röthlicher Lack auf goldgelbem Grund ist sehr gut, Form und
Ausstattung geschmackvoll. Er soll, was nicht bewiesen ist, mit Th. Jay zusammen gearbeitet haben. Th. Britton’s Katalog zählt einen »ausgezeichneten Tenor« und eine »besonders gute« Bassvioline von ihm auf.
