French violin by J.M. Remy, approx. 1820

Built around 1820, this violin is a mature piece made by Jean-Mathurin Remy (1770-1854) at his Paris atelier. J.-M. Remy represented the second generation of a prominent family of violin makers which was active in the French capital for over a century and a half; Remy himself proved to be an exceptional master of his art, especially when it came to the quality of the woods he selected and applying varnish. This violin is made of premium medium-grained spruce and deeply flamed maple with a interesting grain. The aesthetically shaped scroll and well-crafted, very flat arch are an indication of Remy's great skill. The violin has a balanced sound that is dark and rich in character and nobility; it is unaffected by four repairs to the top and a patch on the inside of the top that reinforces the area around the soundpost. It has a bridge and soundpost crafted by the highly esteemed English company Beare & Sons; these were left intact due to their origin but reworked upon request. Our luthier looked over the violin that is offered ready to play. With a body length of 36.2 cm, this instrument is especially well suited to taller players.