This violin has been fully restored to its original setup and retains its original neck. Other fittings, fingerboard, pegs, and tailpiece are by the Dipper workshop. It was made in the popular style of Jacob Stainer.

The Thompson family is representative of the instrument trade in late 18th-century London. Interestingly, the violin makers also sold strings, music by subscription, and copies of opera libretti, such as those of Handel, with their fabulous stories of magic and foreign lands.

In this era the British elite was dominated by families of the nobility and landed gentry, who generally regarded their country house as their main home, but spent several months of the year in the capital to socialize and to engage in politics. London makers such as the Thompsons took advantage of the purchasing power of such families from the provinces who came to London for the social season.

The favorite and most expensive instruments of the time were those of the 17th century Tyrolean violin maker Jacob Stainer, whose tone and particular carrying power thrilled the ear and senses of 18th-century audiences. This was before the rise in the common popularity of Stradivari violins, whose tone was generally considered distasteful.

The Thompson family adopted the model of these rare violins and produced violins in the same style, but with particular tonal characteristics that fitted them for duos and trios and other family entertainments that included accompaniment of the newly developing forte piano.