Contemporary master violin, copy of Gaetano Chiocchi

This master violin reflects a profound study of the work of Italian luthier Gaetano Chiocchi (1814-c.1881), and with faithful details, it also bears a handwritten label inside that echoes the original. Its outstanding sound and the obstinate inimitable identity of its aesthetic appearance are an impressive confirmation that the great effort of fashioning a precise replica can indeed be worth the trouble ― assuming that the original hails from an artist as interesting and multi-facetted as Chiocchi. His comparatively slight oeuvre of approximately 50 instruments was created after he had completed his studies of philosophy and medicine and then worked professionally as a musician. In his fifties he began his third career as a luthier, inspired by the thought that even the old Cremonese masters were only humans too, which meant that their accomplishments could be reproduced. And thanks to his extensive studies, tireless practice, and consultations with outstanding masters of his day, Chiocchi did indeed quickly mature into a luthier who gained acclaim above and beyond Italian borders. What's more, he took the liberty of remarking on the political developments in his country by pencilling revolutionary comments in the bodies of his violins, such as “Italia farà da sè” (“Italy will take care of itself”). It was, however, not Chiocchi's politics, but his status as an artisanal and musical role model that was likely the inspiration for an unknown master, presumably from the Czech republic, to take up this project and create this exquisite historical reproduction of a Chiocchi violin. With the narrow contours of its silhouette, its intriguing purfling and its large, unconventionally shaped scroll, it is a perfect embodiment of Chiocchi's personal style, complemented by thoughtfully selected top-quality tone woods under a luminous golden-brown oil varnish with an interesting play of red tones. Our luthiers, who meticulously set up this instrument in flawless condition, estimate its age at 30 to 40 years – an interval in which this violin has successfully attained the fullness of its acoustic profile and developed a warm, mature sound with a pleasantly sweet character that will satisfy demanding musical standards.