Violin labelled Barzoni, 7/8th size, Mirecourt, circa 1920

About Barzoni violins

François Barzoni was one of the trade names for instruments made to be sold by the London firm John and Arthur Beare. The instruments were made in both France and Germany and were produced at various grades of quality. The name Beare is synonymous with high quality: most of the world’s top violins have been through the Beare’s workshop at some point in history!

About the violin

This violin was made in Mirecourt around 1920. It is made of particularly fine wood, meaning that this would have been one of the higher grades of Barzoni-labelled violins to be produced. The violin has a two piece back of book-matched, highly-figured maple and a two piece front of fine-grained spruce. The workmanship is of very high quality, as was typical of Mirecourt instruments of the period. The varnish is golden-amber in colour, laid over a lighter golden ground. The violin is modelled after the instruments of Stradivari.

How does it sound?

The violin has a bright, cheerful tone. It has the vintage, slightly old school sound that we find in some French violins: the tone is pure and crisp with some colour on top. It is even across the strings and responds extremely well. The violin would made an excellent partner for a young player looking for a bold musical partner, or indeed for an adult looking for a comfortable playing experience without sacrificing any quality of sound.

Condition

The violin is in very good condition. It has one well-restored crack on the front, running from the bass f hole.

7/8th size violins

The violin has a length of back of 345 mm. It is a true 7/8ths violin in that the string length has also been adjusted down the way to ensure that everything is in proportion. You may be interested to read our blog on 7/8ths violins to learn more about these slightly smaller violins.

For more options, please view other violins in this price range.