Nicolas Vuillaume: fine violin circa 1830 (certificate J.-J. Rampal)

Nicolas Vuillaume (1800-1872) was a collaborator of his famous brother Jean-Baptiste, but also a luthier of individual distinction - as evidenced by this excellent early violin.

In the late 1820s - shortly before his move to Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume's Paris workshop - Nicolas Vuillaume's masterful workmanship and concise style on this first-rate French violin reveal just how much talent and craftsmanship he possessed even as a young violin maker. The bright, golden-brown varnish covers an instrument made of exquisite tonewoods, whose fine to medium grained spruce top, like the exquisitely flamed maple back, is crafted in one piece. The elegant, characteristic cut of the soundholes articulates the meticulous attention to detail of Nicolas Vuillaume's hand, who marked this violin with his personal brand stamp on the back. It points ahead to the instruments of the "St. Cecile" series that he was to build together with his brother - and at the same time proves that, for all the success of this remarkable model, there is clearly more to be discovered in the work of Nicolas Vuillaume. A certificate by renowned expert Jean-Jacques Rampal confirms the provenance of this violin, whose label has presumably been removed, if it ever existed. With interesting traces of playing by outstanding musicians and a restoration on the upper bout next to the fingerboard, it is in very good condition and is in top musical form after a reworking in our restoration workshop. Its magnificent, warm tone combines radiant brilliance with the incomparable maturity of a historic master instrument.

• Rare violin from the early work of Nicolas Vuillaume
• Branded "N. VUILLAUME".
• Confident work from the time before the cooperation with Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume
• Very good state of preservation
• Large, warm and mature tone