About George Chanot
George Chanot was the grandson of Joseph Chanot who started the family violin-making tradition circa 1780 in Mirecourt, North Eastern France. George is the great-great grandfather of Kev Chanot.
George Chanot was born on 11th January 1831. George's father was a very highly respected violin maker in Paris. George followed in his father’s footsteps and was considered by many to be the foremost violin maker in London in the late 19th century.
George's father sent him to England in 1851 where he studied under another French violin maker Charles Maucotel, an associate of the family.
George set up in business on his own account in 1858. He worked in Wardour Street for at least 37 years, most of which were spent at 157 Wardour street. These premises were originally numbered 103 but the street number was changed to 157 in 1878.
He established a fine clientele and even attracted the interest of royalty from whom he received the Royal Warrant being violin maker to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The royal coat of arms can be seen displayed on his business card and was also above his shop at 157 Wardour Street.
He was well known and respected by all leading violin makers and dealers of the 19th century. George’s work was greatly admired, so much so that he attracted the attention of Edward Heron-Allen, a lawyer practicing in Soho at the time. He paid George to teach him to make two violins between 20th April 1882 and 15th September 1883 and, as a result Heron-Allen wrote a leading text in the field of violin making called ‘Violin making as it was and is’. This book is still referred to today. Heron-Allen also wrote of George Chanot in his diaries and writes in detail of his friendship with George thereby providing intimate details of his character, his trade and his place of work.
George is credited with making a very exact and faithful copy of an ancient Welsh Crwth which had been displayed in the Victoria and Albert museum. It has been said that the copy was so good that it could not be told apart from the original, which was loaned to him. The original is purported to be in a musical instrument museum in Philadelphia, USA.
George’s work is of such note that an example was included in the British Violin Makers Association exhibition held in London in 1998. A photograph of George outside his premises at 157 Wardour Street was included in the official book of the exhibition. This is available through the BVMA.
George’s violins have appeared for auction at leading salerooms and can command very respectable prices.
