Italian violin, Officina Claudio Monteverde, Cremona, 1923

This Italian violin with a magnificent sound comes from the Officina Claudio Monteverde in Cremona – a highly-regarded and productive workshop established in 1880 by Aristide Cavalli. In the early 20th century, excellent masters flocked to this atelier and created an outstanding reputation for themselves amongst the violin makers of their day. This instrument bears an Officina label dating back to 1923 and indicating that is an Antonio Lechi model. With its small scroll and light reddish-brown oil varnish on a yellow base coat, it stands out from the other Officina instruments featured in our catalogue. At the same time, it is clearly recognizable as a genuinely Italian violin. It has characteristically small and angled sound holes and a lovely irregularity in the grain of the beautifully flamed two-piece maple back – the sort of asymmetry that confident Italian masters were happy to work with. The top with its gently arched table was made of moderately-grained spruce and is free of cracks. At our workshop, the violin was meticulously set up and made ready to play. It is captivating with a soft and typically Italian note in its clear, bright and warm voice.

 

 

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