Andrew Carruthers

sku Product SKU:  24117

USD 0.0000

Bernard Simon Fendt II 15 ¾”

sku Product SKU:  23339

Bernard Fendt was one of the premiere violin makers of London in the 19^th century. After training with his father, he worked with a number of makers before setting up on his own. He is especially noted for the elegance of his workmanship, especially in the superb varnish work with its elegant antiquing.

The sound is powerful and smooth, with a quick even response, even on all four strings. The sound is remarkable especially given its manageable size. Included with this viola is a letter from W.E.Hill & Sons London.

USD 0.0000

Jay Ifshin 16 ⅜”

sku Product SKU:  24452

A native of Miami, Florida, Jay studied at the famous Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake school had only recently opened when Jay arrived but many of his classmates went on to become some of the most important makers of their generation. After a brief stay in Bozeman, Montana, Jay came to Berkeley and in 1981, opened Ifshin Violins which has since become one of the most important violin shops in the country.  In addition to building Ifshin Violins into a major shop, Jay continued to make fine violins, violas and cellos throughout the 1980’s.

This fine viola is typical of the award winning instruments he made at that time.

USD 0.0000

Charles Claude Darche 15 ½”

sku Product SKU:  24575

Charles Claude Darche was the pupil of his cousin N.F.Vuillaume in Brussels and established his own shop there in 1845 at age 24. He was highly respected as both a Luthier and a restorer. 

This is exactly the kind of instrument many violists are looking for. Although of a small, manageable size (15 ½”) it has a big viola sound with a quick response.

USD 0.0000

Rezvani Brothers 15 ½”

sku Product SKU:  24547

Over the last 25 years the brothers Rezvani have made more than 500 violins, violas, and cellos. They began their studies in Iran with Ibrahim Ghambari Mehr, ex-student of the Parisian master, Etienne Vatelot, and later in Vienna with Johann Rombach. They continue perfecting their art as members of the Violin Society of America, working with such masters as Joseph Curtin. Now based in Los Angeles, they produce excellent instruments. Their work is very characteristic, resonant and sweet, easy to play, rich in tone color. 

This viola is quite responsive and represents a great value for the performing musician.

USD 0.0000

Mihaly Remenyi

sku Product SKU:  23787

Mihály Reményi started his apprenticeship at 14 and ended up working with P. Pilat. When he was 23 he started his own workshop and was a noted expert in fine old violins as well as a respected maker.

USD 0.0000

Paul Bailly

sku Product SKU:  23722

After his training with Gaillard and J.B.Vuillaume, Bailly worked in nine different cities in France as well as America and England (London and Leeds). He finally established himself in Paris in 1899. He won numerous medals for his superb work.

The tone is quick and “zippy” with lots of overtones and a marvelous complexity. This great violin represents an excellent value and would be a fine choice for an accomplished professional.

USD 0.0000

Paul Blanchard

sku Product SKU:  15543

Paul Blanchard has always been highly respected as one of the best French makers of the latter 19^th and early 20^th centuries. After serving his apprenticeship with Darte in Mirecourt, he worked with Silvestre in Lyon establishing his own shop there in 1870. He won numerous awards an decorations for his work and was appointed luthier to the Lyon Conservatory, theaters and orchestra.

As with many Blanchard violins, this fine violin is tonally excellent with a rich, clear and very easy to play.

USD 0.0000

Nicolas François Vuillaume

sku Product SKU:  24514

Next to Nicolas’ brother, the great Jean Baptiste Vuillaume, Nicolas was the most renowned maker of the Vuillaume family (31 makers in all). He first studied with his father Claude François before moving to Paris to work with his brother. In 1828 he moved to Brussels, establishing his own workshop which was soon very successful. He was appointed luthier to the conservatory and his work won numerous medals  in Brussels, Paris, London, Vienna and Dublin.

This exceptional violin is a reproduction of the work of Giovanni Paolo Maggini of Brescia. this beautifull violin is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity from Rembert Wurlitzer, New York, 1970.

USD 0.0000

Joseph Hill

sku Product SKU:  17454

Born in 1715, Joseph Hill was the first member of the great Hill family of violin makers and dealers. He moved from Worchestershire to London in 1746 and probably worked with Peter Walmsley. He set up his own London shop in 1753. London makers of that era were especially renowned for their violas and especially, cellos. Cellos were in great demand and this cello of 1775 is a particularly fine example.

It has the classic old English sound and is resonant, rich, and easy to play. Of all the great families of violin makers and dealers, it's hard to imagine one as important as the Hill family culminating of course with the firm of W.E. Hill & Sons, which operated from 1880 to 1992.

It all began with Joseph Hill, the maker of our exceptional cello.

USD 0.0000

Alex Friedman

sku Product SKU:  23925

Born in Ukraine, Alex Friedman moved to Germany where he began his career repairing pianos. As a bassist from age 17, he came to specialize in repairing, then making acoustic basses. Emigrating to the USA, he opened The Acoustic Bass Shop in South San Francisco, becoming a magnet for the best acoustic bass players in Northern California. 

This beautiful flat-back is striking in appearance  with engraved ornamentation on both the top and back.

USD 0.0000

Alex Friedman

sku Product SKU:  23926

Born in Ukraine, Alex Friedman moved to Germany where he began his career repairing pianos. As a bassist from age 17, he came to specialize in repairing, then making acoustic basses. Emigrating to the USA, he opened The Acoustic Bass Shop in South San Francisco, becoming a magnet for the best acoustic bass players in Northern California. 

This beautiful bass was awarded an Honorable Mention at the International Society of Bassists competition in 2011

USD 0.0000

Josef Kantuscher Baroque Viola

sku Product SKU:  24274

Josef Kantuscher was one of the most respected German violin makers of his time.  Throughout his career, his work was in such demand that he made instruments only on commission with a long waiting list, mostly for professional musicians. He made over 700 instruments by the time he died at age 91. In addition, he won numerous awards and medals at major competitions.

Kantuscher began his training at the Mittenwald violin making school in 1941 and was awarded his master’s certificate in 1948. He opened his own workshop there in 1955, working continuously until his death in 2013.

This beautiful baroque viola was made when he was at the peak of his career and is in almost perfect condition.

USD 0.0000

Old French Violin branded D.Salazar

sku Product SKU:  24304

USD 0.0000

Conrad Heberlein

sku Product SKU:  24300

C. Heberlein was born in Markneukirchen in 1887. He studied with Ernst Schmidt and his uncle Heinrich Th. Heberlein. Still in his teens, he emigrated to Philadelphia and by 1909 he had his own shop in Chicago.  Shortly after this beautiful violin was made he moved to St Louis where he finished his career in the late 1940’s.

This strikingly beautiful violin has an unusual “flamed” spruce top.

USD 0.0000

Marc Laberte Shop

sku Product SKU:  24327

Marc Laberte was the director of the Laberte-Humbert Frères workshop which produced some of the best Mirecourt violins of the early to mid 20^th Century. From the "Carlisle Collection", this fine violin would be an excellent and well priced violin for an advancing student.

USD 0.0000

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.

USD 0.0000

Tom Croen

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.

USD 0.0000

Zani Aldo 16 ½

sku Product SKU:  24288

USD 0.0000

Hel Jos 15 ⅝

sku Product SKU:  24287

USD 0.0000

Paul Hilaire *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  24303

Paul Hilaire (1906- 1967) started his training with Georges Apparut and became his first assistant. Upon Apparut's death, he took over the business with Apparut's widow, eventually taking over the workshop. Hilaire was later joined by Jean Eulry who was trained by Amadee Dieudonne. Upon Hilaire's death, the workshop was taken over by Eulry. Cellos were Hilaire's speciality and were especially popular in Japan and fere in the U.S.A. This beautiful cello has a wonderful, open and resonant sound with excellent projection. A good choice for an accomplished professional cellist.

USD 0.0000

Paul Bailly *SOLD*

sku Product SKU:  22497

Bailly is one of the best known and respected makers in 19^th century France. Born in Mirecourt, he trained with Galliard and J.B.Vuillaume before working in many cities including several locations in France and also Brussels, London, Leeds and even New York. He established his final workshop in Paris in 1899. He won ten medals at important exhibitions all over the world.  His work is always of the very highest quality. 

This violin is a classic example of his fine work and has a fine mature tone, suitable for a professional violinist.

USD 0.0000

Jules Grandjon

sku Product SKU:  24110

Jules Grandjon was born in Mirecourt, the son and probably student of his father Prosper Grandjon. He worked in Paris and Amsterdam taking over his brothers workshop before establishing a workshop in Mirecourt around 1850. This workshop was very successful and his work won medals at Paris and London exhibitions. 

This beautiful violin has a wonderfully responsive tone, very even and powerful.

USD 0.0000

Oscar Meinel

sku Product SKU:  24122

Made in the Ernst Heinrich Roth workshop in Markneukirchen.

USD 0.0000