American violin by W. Wilkanowski. Brooklyn, 1938

This violin offers an interesting perspective into the main oeuvre of the Polish-American luthier William Wilkanowski, one of the most prolific and talented masters of his generation. Little is known about his background and education, although he is said to have made his first violin at the age of nine and completed his training at only 17 years of age. Soon thereafter he emigrated to the US, where he worked for the highly regarded music businesses Oliver Ditson Company and Fred Gretsch while also operating a workshop of his own. While working in Brooklyn in 1938, Wilkanowski created this violin which represents the most mature version of his personal model patterned after the classic Cremonese masters. An intense red oil varnish coats the top-tier tone woods of an inimitably American origin, material which William Wilkanowski selected with the greatest musical sensitivity and refined sense of style. The delicate crackling which has developed on the varnish over the course of time gives the instrument a sophisticated historical air, especially along the exquisite radiant flames of the one piece maple back. Other than a minor visible repair to the f-hole, this violin has been kept in excellent condition with no cracks; it still has its signed and dated original label. Now ready to play after having been carefully set up at our workshop, it is a persuasive choice for many reasons, including its bright, open and brilliant sound which impressively illustrates why William Wilkanowski violins rank amongst the most sought-after American-made stringed instruments in the US.