Plinio Michetti, fine Italian violin, Turin, 1931 (certificate by Hieronymus Köstler)

Crafted in the 1930's before the great war, this fine Italian master violin is a mature and perfectly executed piece by the Turin luthier Plinio Michetti. Its radiantly beautiful sound and its exquisite and intensely red varnish confidently confirm the high standards at which Plinio Michetti was working after the first decade of managing his own workshop. Three years before the violin was made, he had won a medal at the Turin violin making competition, the first public recognition of his efforts he received; the next award came from the Cremona violin making competition after the war in 1949. These awards served as major milestones in the life of Plinio Michetti. Born to a farming family in 1891, young Plinio inherited not only his father's artisanal talents, but also his dream of making a violin someday. It was not until after he had served nine long years as a soldier that he was able to pursue this dream at the age of nearly 30. Plinio Michetti quickly gained the support of highly esteemed masters including Euro Peluzzi, Cesare Candi and Paolo de Barbieri. Furthermore, he received valuable guidance from Annibale Fagnola; this inspiration may not have created the foundation for Plinio Michetti's profound dedication to the Turin violin making tradition going back to Pressenda, but if nothing else, Fagnola's influence encouraged it. Michetti's major work was the developing his own varnish: its amber-like consistency and distinctive colour reach a beautiful culmination in this violin, gently accentuating the mild but striking flames of the one-piece maple back. The delicately crafted and yet broadly contoured purfling as well as the delicate blackening of the scroll give the finishing touches to this instrument's sophisticated aesthetic. There are two original signatures on the upper ribs, the wording of which is repeated on a hand-written label that was added later; these all confirm the provenance of this violin which has been maintained free of cracks. Its slightly sweet voice will satisfy exacting demands; the sound is bright and full of timbre with a resonant essence. A certificate of authenticity by German expert authority Hieronymus Köstler is included in the price.

 

 

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