The Bernardel family was one of the most important dynasties in Parisian violin making for well over a century, not just as makers but as some of the most important dealers in Paris. Léon Bernardel worked at first with Derazey before joining the family firm Gand et Bernardel Frères. He opened his own shop in 1899 and was very successful and respected following the style of Lupot. This violin is an especially fine example of his work.
Castelfranco di Soto (Pisa)
Avallon mid 19th century
Eugene John Albert emigrated to the U.S.A. from Germany as a child in 1855 with his father John. He worked with his father and took over the business in 1887. He became one of the most important American violin makers of the latter part of the 19th century.
Lawrence Cocker was highly respected by both musicians and his fellow violin makers all over England. He won a Diploma of Honour at the Hague in 1947. Cocker worked with violist Lionel Tertis in developing the "Tertis Model" viola of which this viola is an excellent example.
Born in 1853, Riccardo Antoniazzi was the eldest son of Gaetano with whom he studied. He spent some time working in Nice with N. Bianchi before setting up his own workshop in Milan in 1881. Among his students was Leandro Bisiach. with whom he worked for a number of years. He was a major figure in the establishment of the modern Milanese school of makers and trained some of the major figures of the nest generation. Riccardo Antoniazzi is considered one of the finest and most important makers of his time in Milan. This fine violin has a powerful and resonant tone with a nice texture and is very responsive and easy to play.
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.
For the past 100 years, the firm of Ernst Heinrich Roth has made excellent quality string instruments first in Markneukirchen and after the late 1940's in Bubenreuth. This violin is a fine example of their more recent work.
Although born in California, Lanini studied in Italy, first with Romeo Antoniazzi and then with Farotti in Milan from 1911 to 1914 before returning to San Jose. This violin is a handsome example of Lanini's work, and has many characteristics of the maker's masters.
Although not much is known about this maker, Chicago was the home of many first class makers during the late 19th. and early to mid 20th. centuries.
Paolo began his training with his uncle Arturo Virgoletti in 1999. Moving to Cremona, he worked with Elio Severgnini. While there, he had the opportunity to restore fine old instruments and study closely the work of the masters. He worked with master makers in Tokyo and Madrid before opening his own workshop in S.Polo d’Enza near Parma. This beautifully made violin has the full, rich tone that we expect from his instruments.
Justin Amédée was the son and pupil of his father Honoré. This violin is a classic example of high quality Mirecourt workmanship.
After graduating from the Mittenwald violin making school, Wolfgand Schiele worked for important makers and dealers in Paris, New York and for Peter Biddulph in London. He opened his own workshop in Munich in 1990 and has since become one of the most important makers in Germany.
Silvio Barbieri was taught by his father Bruno who learned his craft under Gaetano Gadda.
Instruments labeled Eduard Reichert were made in Markneukirchen and Dresden. The G.A.Pfretzschner firm exported many of them to this country.
In the 1920's a number of important workshops in Markneukirchen made excellent violins using Italian trade names. We especially like the Carlo Micelli violins for their excellent artistic quality.
The D.Soriot violins were crafted in the workshop founded by Marc Laberte, one of the most important in Mirecourt. Laberte collected instruments by the great classical Italian makers and strove to reproduce their qualities.
The G.A.Pfretzschner firm made fine violins for a number of years during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This fine violin is an excellent example of the high quality of craftsmanship we always appreciate from this outstanding workshop.
This excellent quality German cello would be an excellent choice for a beginning or intermediate cellist.
Mirecourt, France has a centuries old tradition of violin fine making and today the Aubert workshop is carrying on that tradition. Aubert's workshop creates fine violins, violas and cellos of exceptionally high quality. This fine cello is modeled after the work of the great Jean Baptiste Vuillaume of Paris.
Dating back to 1952, the firm of Heinrich Gill was acquired by violin maker Bernd Dimbath in 1990. Bernd studied with makers in Berlin as well as the violin making school in Mittenwald. Over the last 32 years the Gill violins, violas and cellos have become some of the finest string instruments made in Germany. The model 394 is one of their finest quality cellos.
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.