John Delany (luthier) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Delany
Seán Ó Dubhshláine
Violin by Delany, c. 1800
Born	John William Delany 1769 The Liberties, Dublin, Ireland
Died	1838(1838-00-00) (aged 68–69) Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Education	Thomas Perry
Known for	Luthier labels
Notable work	2 violins, NMI collection
Style	Amati style Perry style Stainer style
Movement	Irish school
Signature

John William Delany (Irish: Seán Ó Dubhshláine; 1769 – 1838) was an Irish luthier from Dublin. A luthier is someone who makes or repairs string instruments like violins. Delany's instruments are special because of their unusual labels. These labels often showed his support for liberty and racial equality. Today, two of Delany's violins are kept in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

Early Life in Dublin

John Delany was born in Dublin in 1769. His father, Daniel Delany, was a cabinetmaker, which means he made furniture from wood. His mother was Mary Byrne. John was baptised in a Catholic church in Dublin called St Catherine's. It's likely he grew up in an area of Dublin known as The Liberties. His father's workshop was on Crane Street, nearby.

It's thought that Delany's family might have come from Queen's County (now County Laois). Many other Irish instrument-making families, like the Perrys, also came from this area. This connection might explain why John later trained with Thomas Perry, a famous luthier in Dublin.

Before becoming a luthier, John trained as a cabinetmaker. He probably started his formal apprenticeship around 1783, when he was about 14. An apprenticeship is like a long training period where you learn a skill from a master. He would have learned from his father or another skilled craftsman. This training with the Carpenters' Guild (a group of skilled workers) would have taken at least seven years. By 1790, Delany was a fully trained cabinetmaker. People described him as a "true artist in wood work."

Becoming a Luthier

Learning the Craft: 1796–1810

John Delany started his career as a luthier a bit later in life. He began his apprenticeship with Thomas Perry in Dublin between 1796 and 1803. He was about 27 years old when he started. Even though this was older than most apprentices, his skills as a cabinetmaker likely helped him learn quickly. At this time, Perry's workshop was very busy. Other luthiers like William Wilkinson, William Ringwood, Richard Tobin, and even the Italian luthier Vincenzo Panormo worked there.

Delany didn't always work at Perry's main workshop. One of his first violins, made in 1799, has a label saying it was made at 11 Townsend Street, Dublin. Since he was already a skilled cabinetmaker, he might have had his own workshop. He may have only needed part-time guidance from Perry.

In 1800, Delany showed he had his own business by publishing a music book for the violin. It was called New and complete instructions, &c. for the violin. In 1801, he was listed as working on the North side of Dublin city, at 17 Great Britain Street (now Parnell Street). He stayed there until 1809.

Growing His Business: 1810–1838

Around 1810, Delany moved his business to 18 Great Britain Street. He also published another music book, this time for the German flute. It included Irish tunes, which was special. By 1814, he moved to 31 Great Britain Street. His business stayed at this address for the rest of his life.

In 1821, Delany teamed up with his nephew, Cornelius Gannon. Gannon came from a family of carpenters, and many of them worked at the famous Guinness Brewery. Cornelius Gannon's great-grandson, Cathal Gannon, later became a well-known maker of harpsichords and fortepianos. Delany also took on an apprentice named Daniel Compton. When Delany passed away in 1838, Compton took over the business at 31 Great Britain Street.

Delany's Unique Style

Delany's way of making violins changed over time. His earlier instruments often looked like those made by Jacob Stainer. They had a dull brown varnish and wide, fancy F-holes (the sound holes on a violin). This was common for early Irish violin makers.

Later, his violins were more like those made by Nicola Amati, a famous Italian maker. His teacher, Perry, had also started using the Amati style. Delany's later violins often had a lighter, golden-brown varnish. This was probably inspired by Perry's "golden amber" violins. Delany also branded his instruments on the back with 'DELANY/DUBLIN'. This was a special mark of the Irish school of violin making.

According to a book called British Violin Makers, Delany's instruments were "well made." They also produced a "clear and sweet tone," which means they sounded beautiful.

The Famous Labels

John Delany's instruments are most famous for their unusual labels. These labels are found inside the violins. Some are short, just stating the maker, place, and year. For example: 'Made by John Delany, No.17 Britain Street, Dublin, 1808'.

But Delany also used longer, more expressive labels. These labels showed his strong feelings about Irish nationalism and freedom. One famous label, written in 1799 (the year after the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland), says:

Another well-known long label is often quoted in books about violins. These unique labels have made Delany's instruments very interesting to historians and violin fans.

Delany's Legacy

Because of his unique and expressive labels, John Delany has been featured in many early books about violin making. These books include The History of The Violin, The Violin: Its Famous Makers and their Imitators, and British Violin Makers.

Delany's violins also appear in fiction. For example, a book called Beneath the Eagle’s Wings features an old Delany violin. The main character, Liam O'Callaghan, inherits it from his father. The book describes the violin as simple but based on the Amati style, and it mentions one of Delany's long, special labels.

Personal Life and Beliefs

We don't know if John Delany ever married or had his own children. Since his apprentice, Daniel Compton, took over his business, it suggests he didn't have any sons to pass it on to. People have described Delany as a "very erratic genius" and "an original egotist."

He was a strong supporter of Republicanism and admired the Irish revolutionary, Wolfe Tone. This strong sense of nationalism was common among Irish people at the time. It was influenced by the growing republican movement in the 1700s, which led to the 1798 Rebellion.

His nationalist views might also be connected to the Parnell family. This family was known for working towards freedom in Ireland. The area where the Delanys might have come from, Tinnakill, was linked to the Parnells. There was even a Malachy Delany who worked as a shoemaker next door to John Delany's business on Great Britain Street. This street was later renamed Parnell Street after Charles Stewart Parnell. It's possible there was a family connection between them.

Surviving Instruments

We don't know exactly how many instruments John Delany made because he didn't number them. However, some of his violins still exist today. They sometimes appear for sale at auction houses.

Two of Delany's violins are kept in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. These are part of a collection of musical instruments made by Irish craftsmen. However, these specific violins are not considered his best work. They are more like the earlier Stainer style, without the fancy edge work (unpurfled), and have a dull brown varnish.

Here are some of Delany's instruments that are known to still exist:

• (?): National Museum of Ireland collection, Dublin
• (?): National Museum of Ireland collection, Dublin
• 1799: labelled 'Made by/John Delany/No.11 Townsend St/Dublin/Novbr. 5th, 1799/Liberty & Equality to all the world'
• c. 1800: unlabelled, branded 'DELANY/DUBLIN' on the back.
• c. 1800: sold by Bonhams in November 2002.
• c. 1805: has a two-piece back, branded 'DELANY/DUBLIN'.
• 1808: referenced in many books, labelled 'Made by John Delany, No.17 Britain Street, Dublin, 1808'.
• c. 1820: unlabelled, branded externally 'DELANY/DUBLIN'.
• c. 1830: sold by Brompton's in October 2016.

See also

• Thomas Perry (luthier)
• Vincenzo Panormo
• Cathal Gannon