Violin Gallery

The Emperor Stradivarius violin

The famous Emperor Stradivarius violin, dating from 1715. It was bought by the violinist and composer Jan Kubelik in 1910 for 10, 000 -- the highest price paid for a violin to that date. "

© Mary Evans Picture Library

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George H. Chirgwin know as the White-Eyed Kaffir

George H. Chirgwin (14 December 1854 17 November 1922) was a popular British music hall star billed as "the White-Eyed Kaffir", a black face minstrel act. He adopted the white diamond on his blacked up face as a trade mark after it came about by accident. Chirgwin appeared in the first Royal Variety Command Performance in 1912. This striking image is one by Alick P.F. Ritchie (1868-1938) in a series of music hall personalities. Date: 1800s, 1900s?

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Margate Pier - Jessie Wildon and her Bijou Orchestra

Margate Pier - Jessie Wildon (Mrs Fred Wildon - pictured on left with cello) and her Bijou Orchestra - a musical quintet. The Wildon family ran orchestras of various types during the summer in Margate during the 1920s and 30s. Jessie Wildon was a "popular musician, whose talented orchestra on the Jetty is a prominent feature of the Margate season". Date: circa 1930s

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection