Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition

The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition

David L. Fulton

The Fulton Collection (475PP)

+ The Fulton Bow Collection (55PP)

ISBN 9781739802929

Peter Biddulph £250 

I take it to be an indication of the much-deserved popularity of David Fulton’s book The Fulton Collection: A Guided Tour that it has now been reissued in a new collector’s edition so soon after its first publication in 2021.

The new edition comes in a slip case with a second book comprising Mr Fulton’s bows, which is the main difference from the earlier edition. This companion volume is beautifully illustrated with 44 outstanding examples, all the work of Tourte and Peccatte with only a few exceptions, and Fulton’s own dryly witty and very revealing commentary on ‘the mystery of bows’. His captions are punctuated with anecdote but are often concise: an 1835 gold Peccatte is simply described as ‘perfect, important’. Enough said, I think.

The violin volume is largely unchanged, with some welcome new stories about past players, but there is an important and detailed explanation of the history of the 1734 ‘Frewen, Silcock’ violin by Guarneri ‘del Gesù’, previously mistakenly known as the ‘Haddock’. Even the greatest and most respected experts of the past can be capable of an error that can be perpetuated over many years, but it is reassuring to be reminded that diligent and passionate owners like Fulton are able and prepared to continue to do, and sponsor, the research that illuminates the wonderful and fascinating histories of these beautiful artefacts. His book remains, I’m happy to say, a charming, enthusiastic and highly informative guide through one of the great collections of modern times.

JOHN DILWORTH