Violin by Matthew Fenge, Ankara, 2015
About Matthew Fenge
Matthew graduated from the violin making and restoration course at the Leeds College of Music and then went on to start a successful business making and restoring violins in Yorkshire. In 2013, he moved the business to Ankara, Turkey, where it continues to thrive.
Matthew has a brilliant eye for instruments and an extensive knowledge of historical makers, meaning that his own instruments are always extremely well-observed copies of antique instruments.
About this violin
This violin was made in Ankara in 2015 and is modelled after the instruments of the Testore family.
The violin makers of the Testore family lived and worked in Milan during the last part of the 17th century and first half of the 18th century. Famously called 'cheapskates' by the Hills due to their quick workmanship and often forgoing niceties such as the fluting on the scroll and purfling, their priorities lay with their instruments´ tone.
The violin has a two piece back of fairly plain maple, chosen to be true to the wood used by the Testores. The ribs and scroll are of similar wood and the front is two pieces of spruce with pronounced winter growth. The varnish is golden-brown in colour and the purfling of the back is drawn on, true to the Testore originals.
The violin has a length of back of 357 mm.
How does it sound?
This violin has a big, confident personality and projects very well. It really gets its teeth into twentieth century repertoire and captures a lot of that unrestrained Testore charm!
Condition
The violin is in excellent condition with no cracks.
Further information
Please get in touch for more details about this contemporary violin by Matthew Fenge for sale and a member of our team will get back to you.