Our current selection of violins, including our new handmade instruments, contemporary/20th
century and antique violins.
Our current selection of violas, including our new handmade instruments, contemporary/20th
century and antique violas.
Our
new handmade European cellos.
We offer high quality ½ and ¾ size violins, cellos and violas
for talented younger players. We can also provide new handmade violins, violas & cellos for left-handed players.
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Violins For Sale
JTL Nicolas Duchene, Mirecourt circa 1920
On Trial
The Nicolas Duchene brand was used by Jerome Thibouville Lamy for nearly a century. This example dates from the 1920s or 30s. JTL instruments can sound superb, and this one is a great example with a big, full, reedy sound. Lots of sweetness and sustain, very dynamic, great tone in all parts of the register. There’s a repaired crack by the left f-hole, otherwise the condition is good. More details
A Scottish Violin by Duncan Mackinnon, Sauchie 1979
£800
This is an interesting Scottish violin by amateur maker Duncan Mackinnon. It was owned for its entire life by the same gentleman who commissioned it, and I’m now selling it on behalf of his widow. It’s a very nice example, eccentrically Guarnerius pattern, superb tonewood and a vivid yellow oil varnish. Very successful tonally, with a powerful and complex sound best suited to a strong player. More details
A Mirecourt Violin, Maggini Pattern circa 1920
SOLD
A lovely French violin made in Mirecourt circa 1920, probably Laberte Workshops, very cleanly built with the typical “Maggini” double purfling. The tone is very sweet, bright and delicate in character, with excellent sustain and particularly good articulation. Not a power violin but a beautiful sound and great response. The condition is outstanding. More details
Martin Swan Violins MSV 69 Violin, Stradivarius Pattern 2012
£1,000
This is a Stradivarius pattern violin made entirely with hand tools “in the white’ by one of our Hungarian makers, and varnished in our shop in Budapest. The sound of this instrument is quite dark and introspective, with good sustain and a very easy response. Ideal for an advancing classical student. More details
A Romanian Violin by Robert Czuczuka 2008
On Trial
This is a lovely Del Gesu copy by Transylvanian maker Robert Czuczuka, made for Hexham Violins in Northumberland. It’s very finely made with a heavily reeded top and a tightly curled one-piece back. The tone is big and open with lovely response – a great violin for an advanced classical player. Certificate by David Mann and an insurance valuation of £4000. More details
7/8 JTL, Mirecourt circa 1930
£1,200
This is a very fine-sounding 7/8 violin, ideal for a player with a smaller build. It’s a JTL Stradivarius pattern instrument, slightly short in body length but with standard 4/4 width and rib height. It’s a lovely looking violin with a super-fine spruce table and a beautifully flamed one-piece back. The condition is generally excellent apart from a small repaired crack at the bottom of the table. The sound is exceptional for a smaller bodied violin, smooth, rich and very expressive throughout the range. A stand-out violin! More details
JTL ”Buthod”, Mirecourt circa 1900
£1,200
JTL made various Buthod labeled violins – this particular example is “Buthod, élève de Vuillaume”, and can be found here in the 1901 catalogue, item 476. It’s very nicely made with a stunning one-piece back, and is in excellent condition apart from a bit of wear to the table edges. The tone is dark and fruity with great response and sustain, ideal for Irish music or for romantic classical repertoire. More details
Laberte “G. Fournier” Mirecourt 1921
£1500
The Laberte workshops sold violins under a number of modern “trade names”, and G. Fournier was one of these – you can find it listed in the Laberte 1927 catalogue – page 3, catalogue number 226. This example is in excellent condition with no repairs or damages other than some scuffs to the varnish and the table edges. The tone is brilliant, sweet and powerful.
More details
Caussin Workshop, Mirecourt circa 1860
SOLD
A very pretty mid-19th century French violin with distinctive Caussin style edgework and varnish treatment. This is a narrow-bodied instrument with high longditudinal arching to the table. In good condition with very little wear; there’s one small repair to the bottom rib, upper and lower blocks have been renewed, no other cracks or damages. The tone is very distinctive – dark and mellow with great response and lots of volume. More details
A Mittenwald Violin circa 1820
£1500
This is a lovely Mittenwald instrument from the early 1800s. Extensively restored, it has a replacement lower rib, there’s a fillet under the fingerboard and a repaired crack to the right of the fingerboard, as well as other minor issues and rather heavy over-polishing! However, it plays beautifully with great volume and a reedy, luminous and highly responsive tone. The former owner’s other violin was the Vuillaume “Alard”! More details
A Mirecourt Violin circa 1880
£1,500
This is a very nice French violin made in the Mirecourt style, typical of the “François Barzoni” violins sold by Beare & Sons. The wood is excellent throughout, with a soft oil varnish and inking to the scroll and rib corners. There are no cracks and no significant repairs, though the back seam has been reglued. The sound is broad, slightly dark and very smooth with an easy response. More details
Martin Swan Violins MSV 78, Stradivarius Pattern 2013
£1,700
This is a good Stradivarius pattern violin made entirely with hand tools by one of our Hungarian makers in Reghin, and varnished in our shop in Budapest. This violin is the first we’ve produced with an antique varnish. The sound is muscular, mature and slightly dark, with excellent balance throughout the range. More details
Martin Swan Violins MSV 77, Stradivarius Pattern 2012
£1,700
This is a fine-sounding Stradivarius pattern violin made entirely with hand tools by one of our Hungarian makers in Reghin, and varnished in our shop in Budapest. It has a one-piece back of broad diagonal curled maple and a rich orange/amber Italian oil varnish. The sound of this instrument is sweet, creamy, articulate and dynamic. More details
Martin Swan Violins MSV 74, Stradivarius Pattern 2012
On Trial
This is a Stradivarius pattern violin made in the white by one of our Hungarian makers in Reghin, and varnished in our shop in Budapest. It has a very attractive one-piece back and some superb broad-grained spruce for the table. The sound of this instrument is big, warm and rounded with excellent balance and sustain. More details
Martin Swan Violins MSV 73, Stradivarius “Molitor” 2012
£1,700
This is a copy of one of Stradivari’s more idiosyncratic designs, the Molitor of 1697. It’s a small and narrow instrument of beautiful proportions – this example has superbly figured maple and a rich amber-brown varnish . It’s a very loud violin, bright, zingy and expressive with outstanding projection. More details
A Mirecourt Violin circa 1850
£1,800
This is a very good Mirecourt instrument after Didier Nicolas with a dramatically flamed one-piece back. The left f-hole has an insert on the outer edge, otherwise the condition is very good. The sound is warm, fruity and responsive with excellent volume. This violin would meet the needs of a demanding professional – it’s a great sounding instrument at a bargain price. More details
An English Violin circa 1840
£2,250
This is a very interesting English violin bearing a copperplate “Jonathan Allen” label, probably a London trade instrument. It has some very neatly repaired cracks on the right of the table, and some small pins around the edges, otherwise the condition is good. Rather flat arching, light build and a slender form giving an exceptional sound, loud, bright and zingy with a solid core and fabulous response. More details
Laberte Workshops “Jacobus Stainer” Mirecourt c1930
£2,500
This is a very nice Laberte Stainer copy from around 1930 – typical of Laberte’s “a l’ancienne” series, this is a relatively faithful copy of an original Stainer owned by Marc Laberte. The condition is remarkable, with only some minor wear to the varnish. The sound is excellent, pure, focused and woody with great response. More details
Oscar Prager, Mittenwald 1938
£2,500
A good Mittenwald violin labeled inside the treble f-hole “Oscar Prager No. 530 Mittenwald 1938” – I can’t find any information on this maker so I assume this is a trade name. This is a finely made instrument in near-perfect condition – there’s some wear to the table edges, otherwise there are no issues. It’s also a great-sounding violin, loud and smooth with rich overtones ,well-balanced throughout the range and fun to play. More details
An English Violin by Thomas Howells Mann, Bedford 1912
£2500
Howells Mann was primarily an art critic, but according to Poidras, he “made about forty instruments possessing real qualities of tone and workmanship”. This particular violin is extremely attractive and has a great sound, smooth and responsive, quite dark in character. There’s a button graft, otherwise the condition is excellent. More details
A Fine Markneukirchen Violin circa 1890
£2,500
This very beautiful unlabeled violin is probably the work of Hermann Dölling Sr. It’s made in the Mirecourt style, but the fine purfling set close to the edge and the narrow f-holes betray its origins in Markneukirchen. The wood and the workmanship are outstanding, and the condition is extraordinary. A great sounding instrument too – even-toned, sweet and warm with real quality. Highly recommended. More details
Martin Swan Violins MSV 76, Stradivarius Pattern 2012
£2,700 (Artist Violin)
This is an outstanding Stradivarius pattern violin made entirely with hand tools by one of our Hungarian makers in Reghin, and varnished in our shop in Budapest. It has a one-piece back of broad diagonal curled maple and a rich orange/red Italian oil varnish. The sound of this instrument is big, bright, sweet and ultra-responsive. More details
Laberte “Montagnana”, Mirecourt circa 1930 (undersized)
£3000
The Laberte Workshops made a huge range of instruments – this “Montagnana” model was the most expensive of their “A la Ville de Cremone” series, costing a whopping 680 Francs in 1931 – look here at page 9, no.678. This instrument is in near perfect condition – thick orange oil varnish and stunning wood throughout. The sound is sweet, bright and smooth with a very easy response. Please note this is what used to be described as a “ladies’ violin”, slightly under standard 4/4 measurements. More details
An Italian Violin circa 1930
£3,500
This is a violin of the Marco Tassini type – these instruments were distributed in the UK by Jim Tait, a dealer based in the Scottish Borders (initially Jedburgh then Melrose). Tait was sole agent for Dante Guastalla, and also sold Sartory and Nurnberger bows as well as Italian and Slovakian tonewood. Andreas Renisto, Luigi Salsedo and Marco Tassini were without doubt trade names invented by Tait, – he bought these violins in the white from Italy and then varnished and labeled them. In all cases the varnish has deteriorated in a very characteristic way, suggesting that while Tait may have been an accomplished salesman, his varnishing skills were somewhat lacking!
However, the violins themselves are superb, and the sound is generally excellent. This violin is a particularly good example with very flat arching and a beautifully sweet smooth sound. If you don’t mind a violin that looks a bit characterful, this is a great buy. More details
Marc Laberte, Mirecourt circa 1935
SOLD
A lovely violin by Marc Laberte after Jacobus Stainer, no. 949 according to the original label. Laberte ran the most successful and largest of the Mirecourt workshops, and the violins carrying his own label were the flagship models. Copied directly from a Jacobus Stainer owned by Laberte, this violin is a superb example in showroom condition with an outstanding one-piece back. The sound is precise, intense and luminous , full of colour and depth – a great violin. More details
A Fine German Violin by Xaver Heini, Kemptem 1826
£4,000
A rare and very well preserved example of this South German maker’s work – something of a collector’s piece but also a wonderful sounding fiddle. It’s a prettily made instrument and a very responsive player, with a big sugary sweet tone and a gutsy lower register. This violin would give many fine Italians a run for their money … top recommendation! More details
A Good Italian Violin, probably Brescia c1880
£4,000
This is a great-sounding Italian violin with an apocryphal “A Scarampella” label. It was sold at Sothebys in November 2005 for £3600, and the sale catalogue is included (it’s worth pointing out that auction prices have almost doubled in the last 7 years). Apart from a rather basic but functional repair to the scroll, the violin is in excellent condition. The tone is big and bright, very expressive, and with exceptional sustain. A soloist’s instrument … More details
Mittenwald circa 1850
£4,250
This is a very elegant Mittenwald violin from around 1850, built on a Guarneri pattern. The front and back are one-piece – dendro analysis of the table reveals a latest growth ring of 1839. The condition is very good – there’s a historic repair to the button and the varnish has been heavily retouched, otherwise no issues. The tone is bright and sweet with lots of overtones, good response and bags of volume – a great violin! More details
Paolo Fiorini, Markneukirchen 1928
£4,250
In the 1920s and 1930s, Beare and Son bought in violins from Mirecourt and Markneukirchen – these violins carried their own trade labels, and were made to a very high standard. The Mirecourt violins were labeled Francois Barzoni (a made-up name indicating Beare & Son), and the Markneukirchen instruments were labeled Paolo Fiorini, with small letters B&S/L (Beare & Son London). Paolo Fiorini violins bear an uncanny resemblance to EH Roth instruments of the period, and were possibly made by the Roth shop for Beares.
This violin is a typical example with nicely fluted f-holes, a very tidy scroll, and a beautiful quilted maple one-piece back. The tone is warm and sweet with an easy response, at once smooth and strong. More details
Andreas Renisto Fecit Italia 1929
£4,500
This is super violin of the “Luigi Salsedo” type, labeled Andreas Renisto. There’s some debate about the origins of these violins but the informed consensus is that they are Italian trade instruments. The condition is excellent, though the typical soft Salsedo varnish has a good deal of wear on the back. Very fine craftsmanship and some really exceptional spruce. The sound is tremendous, powerful, characterful and solistic, capable of expressing a big range of emotions. More details
Pierre Lepileur 1756
£6,500
An exceptional sounding violin by the 18th century French maker Pierre Lepileur. It has inserts to the top edges front and back and a finely executed soundpost patch in the table. One of the best sounding violins I’ve played, big, bright and brash with an immense range of harmonics and phenomenal volume. A soloist’s instrument! More details
A Fine French Violin by Georges Coné, Lyon circa 1945
SOLD
This is a wonderful example from the modern Lyon maker Georges Coné, who worked with Paul Blanchard and Emile Boulangeot. One of his last violins, the wood is superb, the craftsmanship is super-clean, and the characteristic soft oil varnish is beautifully preserved. The tone is warm, dark and honeyed with great definition – an exceptional sounding instrument. Certificate of authenticity by Gilles Chancereul, Paris. More details
Carl Rüffe, Markneukirchen 1931
SOLD
Bearing its original label “Genuine Copy Of Antonius Stradiuarius, No 502, Date 15.6.1931”, this is a fine Markneukirchen violin with a great tone. Carl Rüffe violins are quite rare and they command high prices. This is a very nice example – the wood and the workmanship are first class, and the rich oil varnish is particularly attractive. There’s a small repaired crack under the tailpiece, otherwise the condition is very good. This is a powerful violin with a broad and sweet tone, great carrying power and a touch of brilliance. More details
Johann Georg Thir, Vienna 1776
£7,500
A beautiful example by the greatest of the Viennese makers, with typical high lateral and longitudinal arching. The wood is particularly fine, and the tone has sweetness, clarity and charm. Some repairs to the table and pegbox, but the varnish and the label are in an exceptional state of preservation. More details
A Fine English Violin, Furber family circa 1830
£12,000
This violin is one of a kind, tonally in the top league, and unusually attractive and comfortable to play. The work is typical of John Furber, and a dendrochronological analysis of the table reveals a date of 1821. The sound is exceptional, very loud but always sweet, completely realized in all parts of the register, woody and bright at the same time, deeply expressive, quick and articulate. It’s a very light instrument, as characterful in tone as in looks. More details
Workshop of Caspar Strnad, Prague 1818
£16,500
This is a fine violin made in the Strnad Workshop, at least in part the work of his apprentice Emanuel Adam Homolka. The work is of a very high standard – the table is of one piece, quite characteristic for Prague makers of the period. Tonally this violin is of the highest caliber, with outstanding projection and ease of response. It has bags of high frequency content on top of a dark woody core, great sustain and very clean attack. These earlier Prague makers really had what it takes, and their instruments are stupidly undervalued. If you want a Strad without a lifetime of slavery, this violin would fit the bill. More details
Everything you need to know about our new handmade
instruments: what our design specifications are, why we got
involved in making new violins, and why we chose the Amati,
Bergonzi and Guarneri forms.
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