Thomas E. Hesketh (b. 1866, d. 1945). Manchester violin maker, Hesketh was a pupil of G. A. Chanot from 1885-1891. One of the superior English makers of his time, Hesketh founded his own shop in Oxford in 1891. His work is deeply rooted upon the fine and distinctive models of Stradivari, Amati, and Guarneri as well as his own thoughtful models. This violin, with a refined aesthetic sensibility sporting a one piece back, medium descending flames veiled with a brown over gold varnish, is modeled after the Guarnerius del Gesu.