The making
of a Luthier

Ian Watchorn began his professional career as a Maker & Repairer of Instruments or Luthier in Sydney, Australia in 1976, moving to Canberra in 1979.

1982, received grants from Australia Council and NSW Premiers Department to study musical instrument conservation at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg, Germany under Friedemann Hellwig and John Henry van der Meer.

1984, accepted the post of conservator at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, and was later acting senior conservator there before returning to Australia in 1987.

1987 – 1990, worked on the conservation and collection development for the musical instrument collection at the Power House Museum, Sydney, and later as curator of the same collection.

From 1990, working privately as maker, conservator & consultant in Melbourne, Australia, working for several institutions, collectors and performers.

Image on side: Violin by Thomas Edlinger,
Prague, ca. 1710; restored by Ian Wastchorn.

Instrument maker, conservator & consultant for:

  • Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg, Germany
  • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
  • Stiftselsen Musikkulturens Främjande, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Museo Civico, Bologna Italy
  • Power House Museum, Sydney Australia
  • Max Möller & Zoon, Violin Experts, Amsterdam Holland
  • Studio for Early Music, University of Melbourne
  • LaTrobe University, Melbourne
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Western Australia
  • Charles Darwin University
  • Australian Government Department of Communications & the Arts
  • Wieland Kuijken, Belgium
  • Peter Lissauer, London Baroque Soloists
  • Thomas Albert, Musikalischer Compagney, Berlin
  • Hajo Bäss, Musica Antiqua, Cologne
  • Jonothan Rubin, Geneva
  • Anita Mitterer, Concentus Musicus, Vienna
  • Michael Sand, San Francisco Baroque Orchestra
  • William Bower, New Zealand
  • Richard Webb, Academy of Ancient Music, London
  • Dorothea Jappe, Basel
  • Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
  • Daniel Yeadon, Sydney
  • John Hurlston, Melbourne
  • John Gault, Bendigo
  • Lucinda Moon, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
  • Tommy Anderssen, Sydney
  • Miriam Morris, Melbourne
  • Adrian Walter, Darwin
  • Otago University, New Zealand
  • Grainger Museum, University of Melbourne
  • Geoffrey Morris, Melbourne
  • Samantha Cohen, Melbourne
  • Rosemary Hodgson, Melbourne
  • Prof. John Griffiths, Melbourne

The making
of a Luthier

Ian Watchorn began his professional career as a Maker & Repairer of Instruments or Luthier in Sydney, Australia in 1976, moving to Canberra in 1979.

1982, received grants from Australia Council and NSW Premiers Department to study musical instrument conservation at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg, Germany under Friedemann Hellwig and John Henry van der Meer.

1984, accepted the post of conservator at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, and was later acting senior conservator there before returning to Australia in 1987.

1987 – 1990, worked on the conservation and collection development for the musical instrument collection at the Power House Museum, Sydney, and later as curator of the same collection.

From 1990, working privately as maker, conservator & consultant in Melbourne, Australia, working for several institutions, collectors and performers.

A beautiful restored violine by Ian Watchorn.

Violin by Thomas Edlinger, Prague, ca. 1710; restored by Ian Wastchorn.

Instrument maker,
conservator &
consultant for:

  • Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg, Germany
  • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany
  • Stiftselsen Musikkulturens Främjande, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Museo Civico, Bologna Italy
  • Power House Museum, Sydney Australia
  • Max Möller & Zoon, Violin Experts, Amsterdam Holland
  • Studio for Early Music, University of Melbourne
  • LaTrobe University, Melbourne
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Western Australia
  • Charles Darwin University
  • Australian Government Department of Communications & the Arts
  • Wieland Kuijken, Belgium
  • Peter Lissauer, London Baroque Soloists
  • Thomas Albert, Musikalischer Compagney, Berlin
  • Hajo Bäss, Musica Antiqua, Cologne
  • Jonothan Rubin, Geneva
  • Anita Mitterer, Concentus Musicus, Vienna
  • Michael Sand, San Francisco Baroque Orchestra
  • William Bower, New Zealand
  • Richard Webb, Academy of Ancient Music, London
  • Dorothea Jappe, Basel
  • Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
  • Daniel Yeadon, Sydney
  • John Hurlston, Melbourne
  • John Gault, Bendigo
  • Lucinda Moon, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
  • Tommy Anderssen, Sydney
  • Miriam Morris, Melbourne
  • Adrian Walter, Darwin
  • Otago University, New Zealand
  • Grainger Museum, University of Melbourne
  • Geoffrey Morris, Melbourne
  • Samantha Cohen, Melbourne
  • Rosemary Hodgson, Melbourne
  • Prof. John Griffiths, Melbourne
Three French Pattern 
Panormo Guitars made by Ian Watchorn.

Stringed instruments
from various periods and styles made to order

Ian Watchorn creates a range of new stringed instruments inspired by historical periods and styles, including bowed instruments like the violin family, viola da Gamba, and viola d’amore, as well as period bows and plucked instruments like Lute and Theorbo.

 

Learn more