Composite Violin

sku Product SKU:  23667

This interesting violin has a wonderful tone, suitable for a professional. The scroll, back and possibly the top are of old Neapolitan origin.

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Mermillot Workshop

sku Product SKU:  23456

Maurice Mermillot worked with a number of important makers. He started out with Gaillard in Mirecourt and then went to Paris and worked with Buthod. Going back to Mirecourt, he was associated with Nicolas Vuillaume. He also spent time with Antonio Guadagnini in Turin while he was in Military service, later making instruments for him. He returned to Paris and worked with Gand & Bernardel, opening his own workshop there in 1876. This beautiful violin has a big dark, clear tone.

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Neil Kristof Ertz

sku Product SKU:  22572

Neil Ertz was born in Scotland in 1966. He studied at the Newark School of Violin Making and after graduation  worked at a number of important violin shops in Holland, France and Germany. In '92 he returned to England to work with Roger Hargrave making detailed copies of the work of the great classic makers. He moved to Cambridge in 1997 and then to Edinburgh in 2009. Sadly Neil passed away in 2016 at the age of only 50. This beautifully crafted violin is built on the Guarneri model.

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Raymond Melanson

sku Product SKU:  24819

Raymond Melanson is one of the best-known makers in the U.S. and has made over 360 violins, violas, and cellos in his almost 45 year career.  In the mid 70’s he studied art and violin performance in college. He began his career as a maker with Arnold Bone and Hans Nebel who encouraged him to enroll at the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake. After graduation, he stayed in Salt lake to work with Peter Prier doing repairs and restorations. In 1983, he returned to Massachusetts and founded the violin making program at the North Bennett Street School where he taught for four years Over the years he’s received 14 awards and medals at the Violin Society of America competition along with other awards.

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Neil Kristof Ertz

sku Product SKU:  22571

Neil Ertz was born in Scotland in 1966. He studied at the Newark School of Violin Making and after graduation worked at a number of important violin shops in Holland, France and Germany. In '92 he returned to England to work with Roger Hargrave making detailed copies of the work of the great classic makers. He moved to Cambridge in 1997 and then to Edinburgh in 2009. Sadly Neil passed away in 2016 at the age of only 50.This beautifully crafted violin is based on the work of Antonio Stradivari.

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Andrus Faruolo

sku Product SKU:  23308

Andrus Faruolo descends from a family of instrument makers in Italy. His work is well known on the East Coast, For many years he was the Luthier in residence at the Meadowmount School of Music in New York, with letters of recognition from faculty members like Josef Gingold.

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Tom Croen *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  24326

Tom Croen has been one of the most respected violin makers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Born in New York City, he studied the history of the violin at Allegheny College. In 1977 he left college and studied at the Violin Making School of America with Paul Hart and Chris DeGroot. After graduation in 1980 he came to San Francisco working for Rolland Feller for two years. He opened his own workshop and quickly became one of the most respected violin makers in the Bay Area. In 1984 and 1986 he won three gold medals at the prestigious Violin Society of America competitions with the title of “Hors Concours” and has been a workmanship judge at VSA competitions. As a recognized expert on violin acoustics, he has written a number of articles on the subject.

This fine violin would be an excellent choice for the professional violinist. The healthy tone is powerful, rich, responsive and easy to play.

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Elophe Poirson *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  17767

Elophe Poirson is certainly one of the most mysterious and debated French violin makers. His prime occupation was as a telegraph operator, but toward the end of that career, he became fascinated with violin making. Even though some have considered him an amateur maker, his instruments went well beyond that. In fact he won many awards for his instruments and his work was praised by a number of respected musicians. His violin making career spanned the years 1870-1918 and has been estimated to have made around 300 instruments.

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Paul Mangenot

sku Product SKU:  22208

Paul Mangenot apprenticed first with his father Paul, then with Justin Derazey. He then worked with Hel in Lille. He then gained experience working with a number of master makers in Brussels, Geneva, Lyons and Paris before returning to Mirecourt where he acquired the Derazey workshop.in 1888. His workshop produced the highest quality instruments of professional quality.

This superb Mangenot violin has a truly fine, big and powerful tone.

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Paul Bailly

sku Product SKU:  18793

Paul Bailly was one of the most interesting and gifted French makers of the 19^th century. Originally from Mirecourt, he trained with Gaillard, N.F Vuillaume in Brussels, and the great J.B.Vuillaume in Paris. He then began his travels, working in Lille, Douai, Mirecourt, Paris, America, Rheims, London, and with Harry Dykes in Leeds, then back to Paris where he worked for the rest of his life. His travels exposed him to a myriad of techniques and styles. Throughout his career he won numerous awards and medals at major exhibitions and competitions.

Over the years we’ve been able to offer many of this master’s instruments, but this superb violin may perhaps be the finest.

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Riccardo Bergonzi

sku Product SKU:  22105

Riccardo Bergonzi was only twelve when he started making violins. He graduated from the Cremona violin making school in 1979 with highest honors having worked with Stefano Conia among others, He has been working continuously in his own workshop for over thirty years and has won numerous awards and medals for his exceptionally fine work. We’ve sold a number of his fine instruments over the years and are especially happy to offer this exceptionally fine violin.

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Mario Frosali *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  22205

Mario Frosali was born in Legnano and worked as a violin maker in Florence starting in 1932. He came to New York working at the Emil Herrmann shop along with Simone Sacconi. In Los Angeles he worked for Wurlitzer, opening his own shop in 1954. He became one of the most respected makers on the West Coast, not just in Los Angeles but here in the Bay Area as well.

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Alfio Batelli *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  22018

After training with de Zorzi in Florence, Batelli set up his own shop there. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1947 stopping briefly in Chicago then on to Los Angeles to work with Hans Weisshaar for 13 years. Many of the best makers on the West Coast got excellent training there. This exceptional violin is one of the finest violins by Batelli we’ve seen.

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Charles Résuche *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  13157

Résuche worked for famous shops both in Paris (Gand & Bernardel) and Lyon (Diter) before establishing his own shop in Bordeaux. This beautifully made violin has a full, rich tone.

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Zani Aldo 16 ½

sku Product SKU:  24288

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French labeled Jacques Boquay

sku Product SKU:  12161

Boquay along with Claude Pierray was the premiere early Parisian maker. Built on the grand Amati pattern, this violin has a nice full, rich tone.

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Maurizio Tadioli

sku Product SKU:  23224

Maurizio Tadioli started his training as a violin maker as a child with his grandfather Carlo Pizzamiglio. He graduated from the Cremona School of Violin Making with highest honors in 1985. Since then he has become one of the most important and respected makers in Italy. The long list of awards and honors he has won at international competitions is most impressive.

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Franco Albanelli

sku Product SKU:  24039

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Emile Boulangeot *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  20716

Boulangeot worked for some of the finest shops in France, including an apprenticeship to Emile Laurent in 1890, employment with Gustave Bernardel from 1893 and Caressa & Francais until 1909. After taking over the Blanchard shop in Lyons, he also took over the prestigious appointment as luthier to the Lyons Conservatory. This violin was made during the time he was the official luthier to the famous conservatory, and is a classic example of his beautiful wood selection and elegant workmanship. The tone is sweet and colorful, powerful enough for any professional violinist.

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Michel Eggimann

sku Product SKU:  24189

Born in Switzerland, Michel Eggimann made his first violins there before studying at the Cremona Violin Making School with V. Bissolotti, graduating in 1986. Even before graduation he won 4^th prize at the  4^th Trienalle in Cremona. In 1986 he won the Stouffer Prize for a superb Guarneri copy. He opened his workshop in Lucca, Tuscany in 1991 and then to Rome in 2007. Even before  graduation from the Cremona school,  he had specialized in reproductions of the great Cremonese masters with superb antiquing that very few of today’s makers can equal. 

His work is in great demand, difficult to obtain and we are pleased to offer this superb Guarneri copy.

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Ada Quaranta

sku Product SKU:  15778

Ada Quaranta’s instrument are in great demand because of their great quality. She studied at the Cremona school beginning in 1990 after receiving her diploma in violin performance. After graduation, she worked in some of the most important shops in Germany and France. She has won numerous awards for her work. We are pleased to be able to offer this fine example of her work.

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Léon Bernardel *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  23596

The Bernardel family is one of the most important and distinguished in the history of Parisian violin making. Auguste Sebastian Philippe Bernardel who was the founder of the dynasty, started with Lupot in 1815 and set up his own firm in 1826. His son Eugene Auguste joined his father and established the firm Gand & Bernardel Frères with Eugène Gand. In 1866. Leon Bernardel joined the family firm before setting up his own shop in 1899. He died in 1931. This violin was completed by his son Leon II who continued the family firm. This beautiful violin has an excellent rich and colorful tone.

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Howard Needham *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  24217

After a career as a systems analyst, Howard Needham began making acoustic guitars in 1973, transitioning to the violin family in the eraly 1980's. He worked with Gary Baese in the 1990's who was doing extensive research in 18th century Italian violin varnish. In 2007 in a blind comparison of 100 instruments, on eof his violins beat every other instrument except for a J. B. Guadagini. His violins are excellent reproductions of a Guarneri del Gesu of the Medici Stradivarius of 1716. His fine instruments are being played by many acconplished musicians.

This wonderful violin is the kind of instrument a professional could use for their entire career. The tone is rich, clear and responsive. It's a real joy to play.

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Antonino Cavalazzi*SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  479

Cavalazzi was a student of Domenico Veggi and established his workshop in the late 1920’s. A highly respected maker, he also did extensive research in varnish chemistry. This violin has a full, warm tone of great quality.

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