For over forty years, the William Harris Lee firm located in the historic Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue, has been making fine violins violas and cellos. This cello is one of their finest and was made for William Moennig & Sons in Philadelphia to their high standards and includes their certificate of authenticity and a letter. This interesting cello is built on the model of Matteo Goffriller of Venice.
A graduate of the Cremona International school of Violin Making (1988) Stefan Trabucchi studied with Massimo Negroni and Claudio Amighetti. Trabucchi then worked with Marco Nolli. Over the years he has won a number of awards and medals at competitions both in Italy and internationally. Over the last several years we have been able to offer sever fine violins and cellos by Stefano and are very enthusiastic about his work.
This violin is an excellent example of German craftsmanship from the late 19th. Century with excellent and artistic varnish antiquing.
Some of the finest violins made in Germany after the first World War were from the Markneukirchen workshops of Ernst Heinrich Roth. This excellent violin is a reproduction of a violin from 1734 by Guarneri.
The Davide Pizzolato cellos are made in Daniele Tonarelli’s Cremona workshop under his direct supervision. This beautifully made cello has an excellent tone suitable for an advanced student or professional cellist.
Mirecourt probably from the Laberte workshop c.1920.
Albert Muller was one of the better known and respected violin makers in Northern California. He began his apprenticeship with Louis Prince in San Francisco, moving to Los Angeles to work with Abraham Koodlach. He set up his own workshop in San Francisco moving to Sacramento in 1969. Over the years he won a number of awards at Violin Society of America competitions. This viola is an especially fine example of his work. The tone is dark and rich, wonderfully playable with great responsiveness and clarity.
After the first world war The violin makers of Markneukirchen produced some of their most exceptional work, of the highest quality of craftsmanship and artistry. Pau Knorr was among the finest makers of his time and today his work is in great demand. After working with Dölling in Markneukirchen He worked with makers in Breslau and Berlin. He returned to Markneukirchen, setting up his own workshop in 1921. This viola is one of the finest we have seen by this inportant maker and is a real joy to play, with a lively and responsive tone.
Buchner was born in Schoenbach in 1926 and worked with a number of master makers including Roman Teller. He established his own workshop in 1961. Over the years his work has become very popular with musicians.
This exceptional maker worked for a number of important makers including A.Wunderlich, E.Reinhold Schmidt and H.Glass before setting up in his own shop in 1904. This fine violin is illustrated in the important book on Vogtland violin makers by Zoebisch (pp.194-195). It is in superb condition and has a fine tone.
Although we can't say for sure who made this fine violin, the sound is superb, suitable for a professional violinist.
This fine old Mirecourt violin is from the Laberte workshop.
This is an exceptionally nice old French violin with superb tonal qualities.
This fine old violin is beautifully made with attractively shaded varnish.
The Pierre Marcel instruments are made in Belgium of fine European tonewood. These violins offer superb craftsmanship and fine tonal qualities at an excellent price
Samuel Nemessányi is generally considered to be the finest of all Hungarian violin makers. He trained with J.B.Schweitzer and T.Zach then worked in Prague before returning to Budapest in 1863. His violins were highly regarded in his own time. He primarily made reproductions of the work of Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu which were so skillfully done that they were often re-labeled and sold as fine old Italian instruments. This violin is an excellent example of this master's work with a wonderful sound that has all the best tonal qualities a violinist could possibly want. This fine violin, a Guarneri copy, is featured in the important book on Hungarian makers by Peter Benedek with numerous photographs and a detailed description.
For many years, C.G.Stewart was a cellist in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. As a maker, he naturally specialized in cellos, working into the late 1930's. This interesting cello has a charming warm sound and would be an especially good choice for chamber music.
P.A.Peterson worked in Chicago from 1875-1907. Although we don’t know a great deal about this maker, it is clear from our violin that he was a well trained and skillful craftsman.
Max Willibald Schmidt was born and trained in Markneukirchen but came to America in 1913 during the great migration. He established his shop in San Francisco where he worked for a number of years before moving to Seattle.
In the late 19th. And early twentieth centuries, there were a number of excellent workshops in Mirecourt. This violin probably dates from the early twentieth century.
Over the years we have been proud to have sold a number of violins and cellos by the gifted young maker Marcello Bellei. Born in 1976, he was trained by maker by Renato Scrollavezza at the violin making school in Parma where a number to today's best makers are trained. Since then he has won a number of awards for his fine instruments.