Budapest, 1902
Pilat was one of the most important Hungarian makers of his time and had a tremendous influence on violin making of Eastern Europe in the latter 19th. and early 20th centuries. He learned his craft primarily in Vienna before returning to Budapest. During his career he trained some of the most important Hungarian makers of the next generation.

Catania, 1908. This beautiful and well preserved violin has an exceptional tone that is full, dark and rich. An exceptional example by this maker. Puglisi established a workshop in Catania that continued until 1951.

Bordeaux, 1909. Résuche worked in Paris with Gand and Bernardel and at Lyon with Justin Diter before settling in Bordeaux in 1897. This attractive violin has a big, full bodied responsive tone.

probably Hungarian.

Leeds, 1912. Albert Warrick was the best student of G.A. Chanot in Manchester. He opened his shop in Leeds in 1889. He won a gold medal at the Leeds exhibition in 1895. This attractive violin has a powerful, brilliant tone.

Varese, 2007. This elegant and beautiful violin is a reproduction of a violin by Garimberti, whose work is so appreciated by makers and connoisseurs.

Cremona, 2011
Levaggi has won numerous awards for his instruments which exhibit superb workmanship and beauty. For this exceptional violin, Levaggi used very striking birds-eye maple for the back and ribs, The tone is full and warm.

San Gimignano, 2006. Beate grew up in Rome, but was trained in Germany at the Mittenwald School. She has worked at important shops in Germany and London restoring fine old instruments. She returned to Italy in '91 where she has concentrated on making. Her work displays the best of both the German and Italian traditions. This violin displays elegant, flawless workmanship and a powerful, responsive tone.

Cremona, 2007 & 2008. Tadioli has become one of the most respected and successful of the current Cremona makers. He specializes in reproductions of the great Cremonese masters, especially Guarneri del Gesu. He has become one of our favorite contemporary makers.

Milan, 2007. Rossi graduated from the Parma school headed by Scrollevezza and has also studied with Greg Alf, Guy Rabut, and Carlos Arcieri in New York before opening his workshop. We have just received this violin and were immediately impressed with the beauty and elegance of the workmanship as well as the tone.

Ravenna, 2007. Marco Minnozzi has been making violins for over 25 years. He trained with Renato Scrollavezza in Parma and has worked with V. Nigogosian, Horacio Pineiro, and Rene Morel in New York. His work is sought after all over the world. This beautifully crafted violin has a full, warm tone.

Cremona, 2008 Robert Gasser was born in Switzerland where he made his first violin at the age of 13. He came to Cremona to attend the violin making school, graduating in 1978. In the almost 30 years since then, he has placed instruments all over the World and has become one of the most respected makers in Cremona.

Bologna, 1932.

San Francisco, 2006. Carlos Funes studied violin making in Cremona at the violin making school and worked in Cremona for a period before returning to San Francisco. Even after many years away from Italy, his instruments show many characteristics of the Cremona School.

Mittenwald, dated 1919. This important maker taught violin making at the Mittenwald School for many decades. He trained some of the best European makers working today. This violin shows superb craftsmanship and a fine brilliant, responsive tone.

Brussels, 1925. After apprenticing with Chevrier in Mirecourt (from age 13) and working at major shops in Paris, Bourguignon went to Brussels and worked with G. Mougenot. He took over his shop in 1910. During his career, he won numerous medals for his work. This violin is in superb condition and has a powerful, brilliant tone.

Chicago 1902. Reindahl was born in Norway and came to Chicago in 1870 at the age of 13, having already made his first violin at age 10. He had a very successful shop in Chicago for 25 years, before moving to Madison, Wisconsin. This is a very striking and beautiful example of his, made in his best period.

Ferrara, 2002 (several examples) Ciciliati is one of the foremost contemporary Italian makers. His work is always beautiful. We have had several of his violins and these are some of the best. The example shown is representative of the quality of workmanship you may expect from this master.

Mirecourt, c. 1850. This violin is an excellent example of this famous French maker's fine craftsmanship. The instrument has a huge, powerful tone that is lively and vibrant.

Labeled Claudio Gamberini, probably by Celso Franchi, Ravenna, early 20th. Century

1999. After studying at the violin making school in Mittenwald in his native Germany, Kapfhammer moved to Salt Lake City and taught at the violin making school there in the mid 70’s. He has worked primarily in Salt Lake, but also for a number of years in the Bay Area. The tone is powerful, responsive and brilliant.

Cremona, 2007

Chicago, 1996. Esteemed Chicago maker William Whedbee studied with Morassi and Conia at the violin making school in Cremona and worked at the William Harris Lee shop from 1979 until 1992 when he opened his own workshop. His instruments are used by professional musicians all over the world. This beautiful example has a nice warm tone with great depth, and is in superb condition.

Cremona, 2003. Borja comes from Madrid, but started his training in violin making in the U.S. He moved to Cremona to study at the violin making school. After graduation, he worked with Silvio Levaggi and Alberto Giordano before establishing his own workshop. In 2006, Borja won two silver medals for a violin and viola at the Violin Society of America competition in Baltimore.

Marseilles, 1927. The Diter brothers worked together in Marseilles for a few years although Paul was primarily a bow maker. This attractive violin is in very good condition and has a warm, full tone.

Varese, 2008. We recently met this gifted maker and were very impressed with his work. This striking violin has a lustrous red-orange varnish. The tone is also impressive, powerful, brilliant, and tremendously responsive.

Parma, 2007. Elisa's father Renato Scrollavezza founded the famous violin making school in Parma so she was deeply involved in the world of violin making from childhood. In 2002, Elisa formed a partnership with Andrea Zanré, also a Scrollavezza student. In their workshop in the historic center of Parma, they concentrate on making new instruments along with training the next generation of violin makers. Mr. Ifshin just chose three violins from their selection and we are delighted with them. We also chose two of the violins made in their Parma workshop under their direction which represent an excellent value.

A few years ago, Mr. Ifshin met this gifted maker in Europe and was most impressed with his work. He is clearly one of the most talented makers of his generation. In fact, our faith in his work is so strong that we have five excellent examples. He studied with Scrollavezza at the school in Parma. We currently have a selection of Marcello's violins.

Cremona, 2009. After graduating from the school of violin making in Cremona thirteen years ago, Daniele Tonarelli has distinguished himself in a number of competitions around the world. This beautifully crafted violin is in the classic modern Cremona style. The tone is even, warm and clear.

Redding, 1996.

Canossa, 2006. Virgoletti is the son of a woodworker and lute maker and was introduced to violin making by Ferdinando Garimberti. After making several violins, he began a ten-year apprenticeship with Sesto Rocchi. Starting in 1993 he began working with the Bisollottis (both father and son).

Cremona, 2000. Nolli, like many of the top Cremona makers, was fortunate to have been at the school when Stefano Conia and Giorgio Scolari were teaching there. Since graduation, he has won numerous medals at competitions all over Italy and has launched a very successful career. This violin is now a few years old and has been "played in." The tone is smooth, clear and responsive.

"il giovane" Cremona, 1997. Stefano Jr. studied with his father, making his first violin at the age of 14, before studying at the Cremona school. Today, he carries on the violin making tradition of his family, which began with his grandfather Istvan in Hungary.

Paris, mid 19th century.

Prague, c. 1750. The Prague makers of the 18th Century are highly regarded for their beautiful workmanship. This violin has a beautiful clear, silvery tone. This violin is in a very good state of preservation.

Livorno, 2004. Born in Livorno in 1964, Pietrantonio worked with several important makers who trained him in the traditions of the Bisiach family and especially Igino Sderci. This violin is a reproduction of the model of J.B. Guadagnini and has a wonderful, rich tone of great character.

Toulouse, 1951. This violin is especially beautiful with a rich, ruby-red varnish and is in almost new condition. This tone is brilliant, powerful, clear and responsive.

Markneukirchen, 1951. After studying with his father Adolf, Paul moved to Warsaw where he set up his shop in 1910. He was interned during WWI, returning to Markneukirchen in 1921. He set up what became a very successful shop and had a long career. This violin has a warm, responsive tone of great quality.

Mantua, 1998.

Kleinsendelbach, 2010.
Andreas began his violin making career at the age of 19 working a master violin maker at the Höfner and Paesold workshops. He then attended the violin making school in Mittenwald. He perfected his skill working in various workshops including work with François Perignon in Brienz, specializing in varnish. He received his Master’s diploma and opened his own workshop in 2009. This violin has a beautiful rich tone.

Cremona, 2007. Michele Buccelle graduated with highest honors from the Cremona violin making school in 1990 and has been working with Maurizio Tadioli since then. This violin is on the Guarneri model and is beautifully antiqued. The tone is clear and warm.

Soriot Label, Mirecourt

Munich, 2005. Born in Berlin, Schiele started playing the violin at the age of ten and studied violin making at the famous Mittenwald school. He gained experience in making and restoring at important shops in Paris, London, and New York and has had his own shop in Munich since 1990. Schiele is known for the beauty and accuracy of his workmanship. This violin has a brilliant, powerful, responsive tone.

Turin, 2005

Boiling Springs, PA, 1965. Ed Campbell is well known and respected by most of us in the violin world. He has been making fine violins as well as teaching aspiring makers in his shop in central PA since the late 1950's and has won three gold medals and numerous certificates for tone and workmanship at Violin Society of America competitions. This violin dates from his best period and shows the finest workmanship. It has a nice warm tone and is in excellent condition.

New York, 1885. August Gemunder was the older brother of George and came to this country in the 1840's, establishing his own shop in 1864. He built a very successful business in Manhattan which continued under his sons until 1928. This violin is a Maggini model