Avallon mid 19th century
Aubrey is well respected as a fine maker and won prizes for his work at major competitions. The tone is brilliant and very responsive with great playability.
The Caussin workshop in Neufchâteau (near Mirecourt) produced excellent instruments from 1830 until the end of the 19th. Century. Over the years we have been able to offer a number of these fine and very interesting instruments. This violin has an excellent, brilliant tone with easy playability.
Brothers Roger and Max Millant were among the most respected European makers of their generation. Beginning their studies with their prize winning grandfather Sebastien-August Deroux, they continued their studies with Mougenot in Mirecourt and with Dykes in London. After establishing their own shop in Paris in 1930- shortly before turning 30- they quickly developed fame for constructing instruments of robust tone and elegant craftsmanship. During the course of their career, they won prizes in Cremona, The Hague, and Liege, among others. This violin is a classic example of their work from the same year they won first prize at The Hague for a quartet of instruments. It is of extremely attractive wood and a rich red varnish, and has a clear warm tone filled with resonance and color.
For over one hundred years (1909-2010) the firm of William Moennig & Sons was one of the most important violin dealers in this country. Over the years they employed some of the best makers in this country. They also had close relationships with some the finest violin makers in Markneukirchen (due in part to the fact that William Jr. studied violin making there before the second world war) and they were able to get many of the finest violins from those makers after the second world war. This is an especially fine violin and is in almost perfect condition.
Fernando Solar is considered one of the most important Spanish makers of the 20th century. His instruments are known for their full, rich tone. This violin is a fine and characteristic example of his work, with a rich, versatile, robust sound.
This violn is sold with the original bill of sale from the maker.
Joseph Vautrin started as a violinist and composer, then apprenticing to Chipot-Vuillaume in Mirecourt. He moved to Paris becoming the head of Emile Germain's workshop. He returned to Mirecourt then setting up his workshop in Chaumont. This fine violin is typical of his work with a beautiful golden orange varnish. This violin has a smooth, even warm tone with excellent playability.
Hardwick was a pupil of George Wulme Hudson. This violin has a brilliant, powerful tone.
Marco Minnozzi has been making violins for over 25 years. He trained with Renato Scrollavezza in Parma and has worked with V.Nigogosian, Horacio Pineiro and Rene Morel in New York. His work is sought after all over the World. This beautifully crafted violin has a full, warm tone.
Andrea began his career in violin making with his father in Moscow and was already an established maker when he began his studies at the violin making school in Cremona, graduating in 1995. He has won numerous awards at international competitions.
Carlos was born in Honduras and came to the U.S. as a child. He made his first stringed instruments in high school on his own. Excited by his early success he went to Cremona, Italy to study violin making at the renowned International violin making school, graduating in 1983. He stayed in Italy as a violin maker before returning to this country over thirty years ago. Even after all these years, his instruments show the finest qualities of the Italian violin makers who influenced him.
Charles Voiry trained in Mirecourt as did most of the best French violin makers. He then moved to the beautiful and historic city of Toulouse and soon became very successful. His shop was frequented by some of the finest musicians of the time including Zino Francescatti, Jacques Thibaud, Ginette Neveau and cellist Andre Nevarra.
The Mougenot family of violin makers goes back to the 17th century. Léon worked with E.Laurent in Brussels, Blanchard in Lyon and W.E.Hill and Sons in London before establishing his own shop in Mirecourt in 1899. His work has always been highly respected for his very fine workmanship.
Mid 19th. Century – branded and signed.
Over the last several years, Haide Lin, who oversees both our repair and restoration workshop and our Jay Haide workshop, has won numerous medals and awards at the Violin Society of America competitions. This exceptional and beautiful violin is modeled afte the work of the great J.B.Vuillaume. Tonally outstanding, this violin has a responsive tone with great depth and complexity.
After apprenticing with Chevrier in Mirecourt (from age 13) and working at major shops in Paris, Bourguignon went to Brussels and worked with G. Mougenot. He took over his shop in 1910. During his career, he won numerous medals for his work. This violin is in superb condition and has a powerful, brilliant tone.
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.
Justin Amédée was the son and pupil of his father Honoré. This violin is a classic example of high quality Mirecourt workmanship.
Andrea studied violin making at the Parma violin making school with Renato Scrollavezza. In 2002 he formed a partnership with Renato's daughter Elise Scrollavezza. He has since become famous in the violin world not only as a maker, but as a teacher and expert.
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.