Fine violin by Charles Nicolas Joseph Maucotel, London 1852 (Certificate J.-J. Rampal)

Charles Maucotel (1807-1860) was a bridge builder for French violin making in England - and created magnificent instruments such as this expressive and beautiful-sounding French violin, which was made shortly after the opening of his London workshop.

This Charles Maucotel violin owes its perfectly beautiful antique appearance not only to the fine craquelle that its darkened red varnish has developed over the course of time on a noble, gold-colored base and its subtle antiquing, which is combined with the traces of its intensive use by good musicians. Rather, its maker shows himself to be a mature master at the peak of his career, who had the finest tonewoods at his disposal - maple with a deep, rising flaming for the two-piece back and first-class medium-grained spruce for the top - and who worked with uncompromising care and aesthetic flair down to the finest detail, as is evident in the expressive carving of the scroll with its carefully blackened edges. The deep familiarity with the work of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume that permeates this violin may come as a surprise, as according to the literature it was not Charles, but his same-named brother Charles Adolphe Maucotel who was the most important collaborator of the famous master in his Parisian workshop for many years. However, as much as the stylistic boundaries between the brothers' oeuvres are blurred in view of this rare and exceptional instrument, the original label inside clearly proves its provenance. With a few restorations, which are acceptable for a violin of this age, this magnificent masterpiece by Charles Maucotel is in a very good state of preservation and is immediately ready to play with all the advantages of its large, warm and radiant sound rich in Volume.

• Fine French violin by Charles Maucotel
• Created in his best work phase
• Rare work in the style of J. B. Vuillaume
• Very well preserved master violin
• Antique varnish finish full of character
• Large, warm, voluminous sound and comfortable playing characteristics
• Like all our string instruments and bows, free shipping, with a 30-day return policy and unlimited trade-in guarantee