Beautiful hand-carved violin, made by NZ luthier James Hewitt in 1905.

This violin has an exceptionally beautiful sound, with a clear and resonant voice, which can only improve as the violin ages. Beautiful tonewoods shape the identity of this instrument, which has been carefully restored by Phil Whitehead and we offer to you in superb condition.

You are welcome to visit 'The String Workshop' in Mairangi Bay and "Try before you buy".

About James Hewitt
James Hewitt was born in Palmerston in the South Island of New Zealand in 1867. He worked from 1885 in Auckland New Zealand.  He was a pupil of his uncle W. J. Bowman. He made accurate Stradivari and Guarneri models using imported European tonewoods. Much investigation into varnish resulted in his own amber-oil recipe. Earlier work used commercial oil varnish produced by J. E. Harris of Newcastle-on-Tyne.  Father of Jock Hewitt, violin restorer, who fathered John Hewitt, also a violin restorer. 
About W.J Bowman
W.J. Bowman was born in Scotland and emigrated to Christchurch New Zealand in 1858, though he worked in both Dunedin and Christchurch. He was a productive maker of good accomplishment and his violins and cellos are well-regarded.   He died in 1928.

Thanks to Robyn Hewitt Clemens-Mackie (Bobbie) for this brief family history..........
James Hewitt was my great Uncle. He and my Grandfather, Robert Brown Hewitt were both in business together. 
Robert Brown Hewitt was the talent behind the business and he produced many beautiful violins, ukulele, cello,  and guitars. Together the brothers were a good team. Like many families there were ups and downs, and the brothers eventually had a huge falling out. James stole the patterns and various other things, including several Strads (cellos and violins). It was devastating - Robert moved to Auckland from Dunedin and started "Hewitt’s Fiddle Shop".
I have my mother’s violin that Robert made for her and it is still in it’s original case. It was played by Yehudi Menuhin when he came to NZ. He stayed with my grandparents in their Herne Bay home. The Robert Brown Hewitt’s were very much a part of the Auckland music scene, my grandmother played the cello, and my mother the violin in several orchestras.
James and Robert never mended their relationship. James was the more out-going and tempestuous brother, while Robert was more gentle and creative. Who knows what it would have been like if they had stayed together.  My Uncle Jock (John) Hewitt took over the business when Robert Hewitt died, but he was not very good at keeping things afloat. He was eccentric, and did not have a business bone in his body. After Jock passed away, his son (my cousin) John Owen Hewitt later decided to revive "Hewitt's Fiddle Shop" again in the 1990's, repairing violins and mass-producing ukuleles.  John Owen Hewitt later sold the business to "Music Book Shop" and is now retired in Te Awamutu.