French composite violin by Nicolas Gosset, Reims circa 1760

This historic French violin will satisfy the high standards of professional musicians with a soloist emphasis, thanks to its extremely comfortable playing properties and its radiant mature sound. A instrument by Nicolas Gosset, it represents a chapter of 18th century European musical history that is largely unfamiliar. Made in Reims, France around 1760, it belongs to the relatively unresearched oeuvre of Nicolas Gosset, who – very much in keeping with his era -- tirelessly experimented with innovations in different areas of making instruments. In these efforts he was able to draw upon artisanal capabilities of the highest level, which is clearly apparent in this violin. Its most striking characteristics are the exquisitely precise craftsmanship in every detail, the artistic allure of the violin as a whole, and a profound understanding of the correlation between the thickness of the wood and the curves of the arches; the latter explains this violin’s unusually light weight. The scroll is a brilliant and perfectly executed carving which shows at a glance what masterful work Nicolas Gosset was capable of. The top, an accomplished replica of the original, is no less spectacular than Nicolas Gosset’s own work and represents an achievement by a later French master, probably in the late 19th century - we are thus offering this violin at a highly reduced price. It is no surprise that this violin has undergone a few minor repairs, given its dynamic history and the appreciation that many previous generations of musicians have shown it as they left traces of use on the expressive varnish with its wonderful patina. These repairs have had no effect whatsoever on the sound of this distinctive instrument. After recording the audio samples, our violinist expressed enthusiasm about this historical Nicolas Gosset violin which we have now meticulously set up and made ready to play. We warmly recommend it as an affordable instrument to professional musicians, although it does truly not need any further recommendation given its exceptionally good sound with a richness that develops full of mature warmth and carrying radiance.