19th century English violin, c.1880

It is a rare occurrence for all of the most desirable tonal properties of a violin to find their way into one and the same affordable instrument. This unlabeled English violin dating back to 1880-1900 ranks among such exceptional moments in the art of violin making. Its voice integrates a wide variety of different colours and characters to create a tone with harmonic complexity, warm and rich in timbre, resonant, sweet and mature. This expressive model reflects the highly individual touch of an experienced maker who obviously pursued his craft in England. Every detail of this design shows refined taste: the elegance of the purfling, the striking profile with its beesting corners and the playful contours of the sound holes are all a charming contrast to the large, powerful scroll on a solid neck and the moderately-grained spruce used for the top. The two-piece back features unusually attractive falling flames that are both broad and deep. The aesthetic of these premium tone woods is highlighted by a luminous orange-brown varnish with outstanding transparency and radiance and complemented by a lovely antique patina. After having been carefully set up at our workshop, this English violin is now with some minor repairs to the ribs in top condition and ready to play. With its assertive warm voice, it will win over musicians who have exacting standards.