The Patrick Matthew Violin
I am retired as a Home Office, London, criminologist and senior university academic. For many years I have been restoring and collecting antique violins. I am now an Associate Artist at City Arts, Nottingham where I continue to undertake all violin, viola and cello repairs completely free of charge for Nottingham Music Service, The Music Hub, Nottingham and the Robin Hood Youth Orchestra.
My professionally originated concept of "dysology", which I have written about regarding widely believed, yet empirically proven science and history bias, falsehoods and frauds, continues to influence my thinking regarding challenges faced in the violin making, restoring, repairing and retailing industry.
The Secret Violin Shop, founded in 2025, blends my interests in violin restoration and collecting with a lifelong ambition to start and enjoy working as an innovative artist and artisan in my own small arts and craft based business.
Mike Sutton, Associate Artist, City Arts Nottingham.
VIOLINS FOR SALE AT THE SECRET VIOLIN SHOP.
(Contact: drmikesutton@hotmail.com to enquire about buying one of these violins)
Painstakenly re-built with innovative methods, C18th unlabeled Saxony (German) violin. New bass bar, unique customized radical "Secret Violin Shop" corner blocked for volume and tone, touch fitted bass-bar. Fingerboard elevated from baroque height to maximum modern height. Sebastian provides an expert performance review of this violin £2000
A C19th Rigart Rubus folk violin. Nobody knows where they were really made.
£500
Célèbre Vosgien violin. French. 1890-1920 violin. Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy (JTL) in Mirecourt, France. Sebastian provides an expert performance review of this violin. Like all JTL violins it is crafted from excellent violin wood sourced from the Vosges Mountains. C19th. £1,400
This is a lovely old "forever" folk violin of unusual design. It has a lovely old and sweet mellow tone. Perfect for a musician who does not want to drown out the other instruments. Embossed / engraved with what looks like the brand/name Pourson on the back. Played and assessed by the violin teacher Ursula Donnelly. £650