Johann Christoph Leidolff, historical Viennese violin from 1754

A historic rarity from the era of Viennese pre-Classicism, this violin by Johann Christoph Leidolff opens a window into musical history with its full sound rich in timbre.

A sample of Johann Christoph Leidolff’s late oeuvre, this professional violin crafted in the year 1754 reflects the refined artistry of the exceptionally successful master who, alongside his son Joseph Ferdinand Leidolff, is considered the finest representative of the influential family of Viennese luthiers. And the full, mature and timbre-rich sound of this violin gives us an insight into the musical world of pre-Classicism. Leidolff’s interpretation of the high-table Stainer model which dominated the art of its time is most beautifully manifest in this instrument. Its typical sound holes are painstakingly carved, and the inimitable contours of its slightly “angular” template is an unusually rare expression of his confident, elegant and musically sensitive style, rounded out by the delicately crafted Viennese scroll.  The violin’s authenticity is confirmed by both the dated original label inside the body and the brownish-yellow varnish which has the darkening that is characteristic for Leidolff’s instruments. In keeping with the advanced age of this historic violin, a few repairs have been made which fully honour the instrument‘s quality and relevance in musical history. These restorations wereconducted at the highest professional standards and have preserved the musical virtues of this violin, which is now ready to play.