Czech Violin circa 1900
About Czech Violin Making
This violin was made in Luby, then known by the German name Schönbach. The town had been an important centre of violin making since the second half of the 17th century, flourishing during the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Luby is less than 20km away from the corresponding German centres of Klingenthal and Markneukirchen. The geographical closeness of the three centres means that there was a good deal of crossover in the workforce, leading to similarities in the construction and style of the instruments made in each. There are a great many Czech instruments from this period, ranging from quickly-made factory instruments to the more carefully constructed workshop instruments.
About the violin
Made around 1900, this violin is modelled after the instruments of the Cremonese maker Guarneri `del Gesù´. The violin has an attractive two piece back of highly-figured maple, descending steeply from the centre joint. The front is two pieces of straight-grained spruce. The violin has subtle antiquing and a lovely, translucent golden-amber varnish. The length of back is 358 mm.
This violin was made in a workshop, meaning that it was put together by a group of highly-skilled workers who each had their own part to play in its construction. This method allows for excellent consistency but can sometimes come at the expense of originality. The more unusual choice of model ensures that this violin has a great deal of character.
How does it sound?
Violins modelled after `del Gesù´ tend to be big and powerful: this violin is a good example! Whilst this ensures that the violin projects well, the fundamental tone of the instrument is warm and rich. This combination makes this a really lovely violin to play.
Condition
The violin is in very good restored condition.
Further information
Please get in touch for more details about this Czech violin for sale and a member of our team will get back to you.