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Ifshin Rare & Fine Instruments

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Léon Bernardel *SOLD*
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.

Lothar Seifert
23649

The Seifert workshop is one of the most respected German bow making workshops today. This is an especially beautiful bow, gold mounted with highest quality pernambuco. The Seifert workshop was founded almost a century ago in Graslitz, Saxony, moving to Bubenreuth in the 1950’s

Emile François Ouchard *SOLD*
23665

E.F.Ouchard is considered one of the central figures in French bow making. He trained with E.Cuniot starting in 1886 eventually taking over his firm (Cuniot-Hury)  Over the years he trained a number of important makers including his son Emile Auguste. This bow bears the stamp “A.C.” (Albert Claudot). It has excellent playing qualities, strong with a quick response. and is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity from Raffin of Paris..

F.N. Voirin *SOLD*
23612

François Nicolas Voirin is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential French makers of the classical period. He apprenticed to J. Simon in Mirecourt, then working for Vuillaume for fifteen years becoming director of the bow workshop after N.Maline. After leaving the Vuillaume workshop, he set up his own shop where he trained C.Peccatte, J.A.Lamy, C.N.Bazin, C.Husson and Louis and Claude Thomassin. This beautiful bow was made in the Vuillaume style and has truly magnificent playing qualities. The Vuillaume style frog and button are a modern replacement, made specifically for this fine bow. The playing qualities are amazing, suitable for a top soloist.

Christian Barthe
20349

One of the finest contemporary Parisian makers, Barthe has won prizes in various competitions, including in 2016 in Paris for a viola bow. After studying violin for several years, Barthe embarked on his bowmaking career at the young age of 16, apprenticing with Gilles Duhaut. He perfected his skills with Stephane Thomachot and Jean-Jacques Millant. Since 1997 he worked in Paris, where he continued to seek the advice of the inimitable Bernard Millant. Barthe’s work is reminiscent of historic French making, yet possesses distinct characteristics all his own. The bows are remarkably responsive and supple, drawing a warm, clean sound. They are excellent for any young musician seeking a fabulous modern bow at a reasonable price.

Keith Bearden
20480

Keith Bearden was born into a family of violin and bow makes in St Louis. He studied bow making with his father and was a partner in the Bearden firm. He has worked with a number of important makers and dealers over the years. This excellent bow was made for the firm of Kenneth Warren and Sons in Chicago one of the oldest (founded almost a century ago) and most respected violin dealers on the world.

Christian Barthe
21468

One of the finest contemporary Parisian makers, Barthe has won prizes in various competitions, including in 2016 in Paris for a viola bow. After studying violin for several years, Barthe embarked on his bowmaking career at the young age of 16, apprenticing with Gilles Duhaut. He perfected his skills with Stephane Thomachot and Jean-Jacques Millant. Since 1997 he worked in Paris, where he continued to seek the advice of the inimitable Bernard Millant. Barthe’s work is reminiscent of historic French making, yet possesses distinct characteristics all his own. The bows are remarkably responsive and supple, drawing a warm, clean sound. They are excellent for any young musician seeking a fabulous modern bow at a reasonable price.

Branded Breton *SOLD*
23647

This is a beautifully made violin from one of the best Mirecourt workshops.

Johann Glass
22851

Johann Glass studied violin making with his father Franz Johann and took over his very successful firm. The Glass family of makers (20 in all) dated from the late 1700’s to th mid 20th century. Johann was also the maker and restorer to the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester for much of his career.

Albin Paulus *SOLD*
23178

For more than 150 years, the 28 violin makers of the Paulus family made fine instruments, primarily in Markneukirchen. Albin worked with Dölling before setting up his own workshop in 1890. His workshop became very successful and his instruments were in great demand.

John Friedrich & Bros. *SOLD*
22944

After training with several important makers in his native Germany, John Friedrich emigrated to New York in 1883, setting up his own shop with his brother William. He employed a number of highly skilled makers and went on to win a number of awards and medals for his instruments.

The JTL (Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy) Workshop *SOLD*
23068

The Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy (JTL) workshop produced fine string instruments for several decades. Starting in he mid 19th. century. This violin is an unusually nice example of their work.

Ernst Heinrich Roth
22974

Over the years, we have offered a number of fine violins from the Ernst Heinrich Roth workshop made in the 1920’s. This violin dating from 1928 is an unusually fine example. Modeled after a Stradivarius of 1718.

Paul Bailly *SOLD*
23648

Paul Bailly worked initially with Gailliard and J.B.Vuillaume in Paris. He then traveled to  Lille, Mirecourt, Paris, Brussels, Rheims, London, Leeds (With Harry Dikes) and even to America before settling in Paris in 1899. Over his career he won over ten medals for his work. His instruments were always very fine on a number of classical models.  The tone is quick and responsive with great overtones.

Charles Buthod *SOLD*
22900

Charles Buthod worked for Vuillaume in Paris before joining Husson in Mirecourt to found a workshop making instruments of exceptionally high quality, with Buthod as director. This violin has an exceptional tone, Strong, rich and complex with lots of color and overtones and very easy to play.

JJ Millant
22964

One of the finest archetiers after World War II, Jean-Jacques Millant studied with the Morizot family from 1946-1948 before working with his father and uncle, Roger and Max Millant. Setting up on his own in 1950, Millant developed a fine reputation, eventually being awarded the title of “One of the Best Craftsmen of France” in 1970. Around 1980 he only made bows mounted in ebony and gold. This is a great playing bow, strong and lithe, a classic example of his excellent work.  

John Bolander *SOLD*
23593

John Bolander worked with his father John Alfred. In 1943-1946 he learned bow making with Alfred Lanini . His bows have become very popular in the San Francisco Bay Area. And are of a distinctive style. The pernambuco stick is especially beautiful and the ebony frog is unusual, in that Bolander normally used mountain mahogany.

Karl van der Meer *SOLD*
23538

Karl van der Meer started out as a violinist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra, taking up violin making in 1892. He became head of the violin department of a large Amsterdam music store, establishing his own firm in 1899 which became the most important violin shop in Amsterdam.  He was especially well known for his fine bows. Those branded K.V.D.MEER  AMSTERDAM. Were made by A.Toussant in Mirecourt.