Rare French violin around 1850, after François Chanot - collector's item

The inspiration François Chanot created with his avant-garde design had an impact on 19th century French violin making for generations – as is evident in this rare violin from approximately 1850.

The innovative violin model by François Chanot was the template for this interesting and rare French violin from around 1850; an extremely knowledgable luthier whose name has been lost to history closely followed Chanot‘s 1817 patented template. Based on the hypothesis that each corner of the body affects the instrument’s resonant properties, Chanot designed a sillhouette that is reminiscent of the shape of a guitar, although this particular violin has less of a tapered waist. The highly distinctive interpretation of the Chanot violin is also manifest in the classic sound holes, the scroll and the accentuated margins. The elegant, stylistically unique and exceptionally meticulous craftsmanship of this violin indicates the work of an experience and well established master who chose delicately flamed maple of extraordinary quality for the one-piece back and beautiful finely-grained spruce for the top. With a sound as unique as its appearance, this violin has been preserved in excellent condition. We set it up and made it ready to play at our workshop, and it can be warmly recommended for the magnificent maturity and clarity of its voice with an incomparably silvery note that is evocative of Baroque instruments.