Violin by Tomas Pilar, Hradec Kralove, 1992
This violin has now sold.
About Tomas Pilar
The Pilar family have been central to Czech violin making for generations. The family´s connection to Hradec Kralove began with Karel Pilar, grandfather of Tomas, who set up his workshop in the town in 1924. His son Vladimir was born two years later and went on to learn the craft with his father after time spent training as a violinist: in time this pattern was repeated with Vladimir´s own son Tomas.
About Czech violin making
When thinking about Czech violins, we tend to think first of those trade instruments made in the workshops of Luby. This is only part of the story: there are a great many very fine makers, both historical and modern, based in Prague in particular. These fine Czech instruments very often provide excellent value for money: in our opinion there is great scope for the school to rise in value!
About the violin
Made in 1992, the violin is modelled after the 1733 `ex-Kreisler´ Guarneri.
The violin has a two piece back of fairly finely-flamed maple. The ribs and scroll are of similar wood. The two piece front is of finely grained spruce and the varnish is reddish-orange in colour, laid over a lighter ground.
The violin has a length of back of 355 mm.
How does it sound?
This violin is one of the most comfortable instruments to play in the whole shop. Everything about its tone is soft, warm and inviting. This isn´t a violin for cutting through an orchestra, rather a warm and intimate instrument which would be a pleasure to play in long hours of practice or orchestral rehearsals.
Condition
The violin is in excellent condition: there are no cracks but there is slight wear to the varnish. The violin bears its original label.