Born in Livorno in 1964, Pietrantonio worked with several important makers who trained him in the traditions of the Bisiach family and especially Igino Sderci. This violin is a reproduction of the model of J.B.Guadagnini and has as wonderful rich tone of great character.

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.

After graduating from the violin making school in Mittenwald, Michael Fischer worked for Dietrich Kessler and Charles Beare in London doing restorations of fine old master instruments. He soon emigrated to America working with Hans Weisshaar in Los Angeles before setting up his own shop in 1984. He has become renowned for his reproductions of the great masters having made over 300 replications of specific master instruments. This violin is an excellent reproduction of a violin by Carlo Ferdinando Landolphi.

The Vissenaire family of makers established in 1823 with Louis I. Louis Nicolas started as a professional violinist and took over his father's business with his brother in 1880. His work is highly regarded for exceptional workmanship and excellent tone quality.

Giovanni Cavani studied with the great Leandro Bisiach. He then set up his own workshop in Spilamberto. He was a highly regarded maker who won many awards for his work and was the maker for the Parma and Bologna conservatories. This violin was made at the peak of Cavani’s career.

We are especially pleased to be able to offer these two superb examples of the work of Emile Germain. Born in 1853, Emile trained first in Mirecourt (as did almost all Parisian makers) and then with his father in Paris. He took over his business in 1870 and continues on until 1933. He won a medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900. These two wonderful violins are in unusually fine condition made from the very finest materials.

One of the finest luthiers working in Cremona today, Levaggi’s instruments are respected for their perfect workmanship and elegant tonal qualities. Before setting up his own workshop in the historic center of Cremona in 2001, he graduated from the Cremona School of Lutherie in 1984 where he studied with Vincenzo Bissolotti, among others, and then worked in Genoa with Carlson-Cacciatori-Neumann. He has won countless international prizes over the course of his career, and continues to perfect his craft. This violin was made with special wood from Jay Ifshin’s large stock, and was hand selected by Ifshin and Levaggi for aesthetic beauty and sonorous qualities. It has a crisp, full tone that will mature very nicely.

Trained originally as a violinist, Frosali established as a violinmaker in Florence in 1932 having studied with Giuseppe Scarampella. Emigrating to America, he worked first in New York where he worked for Emil Herrmann. While there he worked alongside Simone Sacconi. He moved to Los Angeles in 1939 working at Wurlitzer in their violin department, establishing his own shop in 1954. In 1949 he was the only American maker to win an award at a major competition in the Hague.  He was enormously successful and his instruments were (and still are) in great demand both in the Los Angeles area as well as here in the Bay Area.

Mario D’Alessandro trained at Wurlitzer in New York with Roman Klier starting in 1948, then with Simone Sacconi, working along side some of the most important makers of the time like Charles Beare,Louis Bellini, Dario D’Attili, Hans Nebel and Réne Morel. This beautiful violin was made while he was working at Wurlitzer.

This interesting violin has a wonderful tone, suitable for a professional. The scroll, back and possibly the top are of old Neapolitan origin.

Neil Ertz was born in Scotland in 1966. He studied at the Newark School of Violin Making and after graduation  worked at a number of important violin shops in Holland, France and Germany. In '92 he returned to England to work with Roger Hargrave making detailed copies of the work of the great classic makers. He moved to Cambridge in 1997 and then to Edinburgh in 2009. Sadly Neil passed away in 2016 at the age of only 50. This beautifully crafted violin is built on the Guarneri model.

Neil Ertz was born in Scotland in 1966. He studied at the Newark School of Violin Making and after graduation worked at a number of important violin shops in Holland, France and Germany. In '92 he returned to England to work with Roger Hargrave making detailed copies of the work of the great classic makers. He moved to Cambridge in 1997 and then to Edinburgh in 2009. Sadly Neil passed away in 2016 at the age of only 50.This beautifully crafted violin is based on the work of Antonio Stradivari.

Andrus Faruolo descends from a family of instrument makers in Italy. His work is well known on the East Coast, For many years he was the Luthier in residence at the Meadowmount School of Music in New York, with letters of recognition from faculty members like Josef Gingold.

Riccardo Bergonzi was only twelve when he started making violins. He graduated from the Cremona violin making school in 1979 with highest honors having worked with Stefano Conia among others, He has been working continuously in his own workshop for over thirty years and has won numerous awards and medals for his exceptionally fine work. We’ve sold a number of his fine instruments over the years and are especially happy to offer this exceptionally fine violin.

Mario Frosali was born in Legnano and worked as a violin maker in Florence starting in 1932. He came to New York working at the Emil Herrmann shop along with Simone Sacconi. In Los Angeles he worked for Wurlitzer, opening his own shop in 1954. He became one of the most respected makers on the West Coast, not just in Los Angeles but here in the Bay Area as well.

After training with de Zorzi in Florence, Batelli set up his own shop there. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1947 stopping briefly in Chicago then on to Los Angeles to work with Hans Weisshaar for 13 years. Many of the best makers on the West Coast got excellent training there. This exceptional violin is one of the finest violins by Batelli we’ve seen.

Résuche worked for famous shops both in Paris (Gand & Bernardel) and Lyon (Diter) before establishing his own shop in Bordeaux. This beautifully made violin has a full, rich tone.

Boquay along with Claude Pierray was the premiere early Parisian maker. Built on the grand Amati pattern, this violin has a nice full, rich tone.

Boulangeot worked for some of the finest shops in France, including an apprenticeship to Emile Laurent in 1890, employment with Gustave Bernardel from 1893 and Caressa & Francais until 1909. After taking over the Blanchard shop in Lyons, he also took over the prestigious appointment as luthier to the Lyons Conservatory. This violin was made during the time he was the official luthier to the famous conservatory, and is a classic example of his beautiful wood selection and elegant workmanship. The tone is sweet and colorful, powerful enough for any professional violinist.

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 Bernardel family is one of the most important and esteemed in French violin making. Beginning with Auguste Sebastien Philippe who joined with Nicolas Lupot in 1815, the Bernardels continued on in Paris for over a century. This is a beautiful and classic example this important family’s work.

Ada Quaranta’s instrument are in great demand because of their great quality. She studied at the Cremona school beginning in 1990 after receiving her diploma in violin performance. After graduation, she worked in some of the most important shops in Germany and France. She has won numerous awards for her work. We are pleased to be able to offer this fine example of her work.

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.

Cavalazzi was a student of Domenico Veggi and established his workshop in the late 1920’s. A highly respected maker, he also did extensive research in varnish chemistry. This violin has a full, warm tone of great quality.