Andrea Castagneri was born in Turin in 1696, but moved to Paris in 1720 becoming very successful as both a maker and dealer. In spite of the fact that he spent almost all of his career in France his instruments maintained many Italian characteristics.
Vittoria Formaggia’s family has been working in the field of musical instruments for three generations. Vittorio graduated from the Cremona school of violin making in 1978 having worked with Giorgio Scolari and Morassi. He has had his own workshop in Crema ever since and has won several awards at competitions.
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.
The Gustav August Ficker instruments were made for William Lewis & Sons of Chicago, one of the largest and most important violin shops in the U.S. They opened in the 1890’s and continued for almost a century. The Ficker violins, violas and cellos were always of the highest quality and always in demand.
This beautifully made German violin bears a facsimile Stradivarius label but is clearly very much in the style of the best work from the Ernst Heinrich Roth workshop in Markneukirchen.
Louis Bazin trained with his father Charles Nicolas starting at age 12 and by the time he was only 26 he had taken over the family workshop. His workshop made fine bows not just under their own name but for a number of Parisian shops as is the case with this fine bow. It is attractively priced due to the fact that the button is not original to the bow. It is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity from Raffin.
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
Klaus Grünke is perhaps the most important and respected bow maker in Germany and all over the world. He began his training with his father Richard, then spent 1980-82 in Los Angeles working with Hans Weisshaar. We are always delighted to offer his fine bows.
Klaus Grünke is one of the best known and respected bow makers working in Germany today. He studied with his father Richard from 1975-1978. In 1980 he came to Los Angeles to work with Hans Weisshaar where he was able to study the work of the great master bow makers of the past. In addition to making superb bows he has developed an expertise in fine old bows. In 2000, he published the two volume set on German bow makers.
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.