SALE Fine Hopf family master violin, Klingenthal approx. 1800

Hopf, the dynasty of violin makers, is a name that stands for the unmistakable identity of traditional craftsmanship; its origins date back over 300 years and are closely linked to the earliest days of making instruments in the Vogtland region. In the 19th century, the very unique violin model attributed to Caspar Hopf (1650-1711) became a template for numerous popular mass-produced instruments, among which there are more than a few truly outstanding instruments. Old master violins from the Hopf family have remained a category unto themselves, however, and this interesting violin is both a typical piece as well as the nuanced and delicate work of an unknown master who was a peer of David Christian Hopf or David August Hopf. Its classically “angular” contours are the widely imitated hallmark of the family tradition. Masterful craftsmanship can be seen in the way the body was formed, with its well-executed flat arch and low ribs. The instrument was made of premium tone woods of a fine quality that is set off in the best possible light by the one-piece flamed maple back. This master violin was thoroughly restored and set up by our luthiers and is ready to play; it has been kept in exceptionally good condition with minor restoration and the traces of use that are quite fitting for an instrument of its age, especially when it has such a mature voice full of character. Its mature sound is rich in volume yet precise and fluid in its resonance, with some sweetness to it.