Fine French violin by Eugene Langonet, Nantes

During the period in which the Langonet family from Mirecourt was at its creative peak in the world of Europen violin making, Eugene Langonet created the violin presented here, a testament to the multifaceted artisanry, training and experience which this remarkable dynasty of violin makers cultivated. The family tradition of the Langonets extended all the way back to the early 18th century and reached its zenith in 1880 when Charles François Langonet, Eugene Langonets's eldest brother, began to work at the highly esteemed London workshop W. E. Hill & Sons. Eugene Langonet followed in his footsteps after completing his training with Jean-Baptiste Chipot-Vuillaume and working for Paul Mangenot, but unlike Charles and his sons, he did not remain in London; after a brief interval at Sylvestre & Maucotel in Paris, Eugene Langonet opened his own workshop in Nantes. It was there that he made this magnificently crafted violin for which Langonet selected tone woods of the utmost quality: finely to moderately grained spruce for the top, and maple with beautiful dynamic flames for the two-piece back and ribs. The scroll is an elegant carving with delicately blackened edges which reflects the work of an experienced hand working with painstaking dedication down to the most intricate detail. Eugene Langonet‘s signed and hand-dated label inside the body confirms the authenticity of this outstanding instrument, and its sound features a wonderful richness, superior maturity and dark yet very clear character which will delight musicians.