French violin by Victor Audinot, Paris 1927 (certificate J.-J. Rampal)
Victor Audinot (1870-1943) caused a sensation early on with his detailed replicas of great classics of violin making, including famous instruments by Antonio Stradivari. However, it was above all modern French violins made by Victor Audinot that had a lasting musical impact, and these, like the one offered here, are testimony to an outstanding talent.
The virtuoso handling...
Victor Audinot (1870-1943) caused a sensation early on with his detailed replicas of great classics of violin making, including famous instruments by Antonio Stradivari. However, it was above all modern French violins made by Victor Audinot that had a lasting musical impact, and these, like the one offered here, are testimony to an outstanding talent.
The virtuoso handling of interesting irregularities in the wood, which Audinot skillfully highlights in this violin, is reminiscent of the aesthetic preferences of Italian masters - and yet this Victor Audinot violin, made in 1927, also unmistakably belongs to the French tradition in which its maker grew up. Born in Mirecourt, the world-famous center of musical instrument making in the Vosges, Audinot learned his craft from François Chardin and Télesphore Barbé - a Derazey pupil and collaborator of Grandjon, Jacquot and Vuillaume, who was himself famous for his Stradivari replicas and presumably passed this interest on to his pupil. For this violin, Audinot took his cue from Stradivari, whose influential model is given a very personal interpretation here, right down to the lovingly crafted scroll. With its darkened, glowing golden-brown color, the perfectly beautiful varnish gives the deeply flamed maple on the back and ribs a mature radiance that perfectly matches the violin's radiantly beautiful tone. Crack-free and excellently preserved, it is in the best possible condition, which our luthiers have confirmed during a thorough inspection.
