Italian violin by Giuseppe Bargelli, Florence, 1958

This Italian violin from the late oeuvre of Florentine master Giuseppe Bargelli represents a lesser-known local tradition in modern violin making that was shaped by a great degree of individuality and artisanal subtlety – whilst also representing an outstanding artist who, despite his wide-ranging obligations as a luthier at the conservatory in Florence, produced a large body of work marked by his inimitable style. Like his mentor, the Bisiach student Iginio Sderci, Bargelli also understood the art of blending precise artisanry and a perfectly-honed design consciousness with the utmost standards of aesthetic and musical quality. Here his wonderful orange-brown varnish makes a self-confident statement: its slightly milky transparency accentuates the expressive lines of the moderately grained spruce top and the dynamic and exotically lovely flames on the maple of the two-piece back. Thanks to the support of his son Gaston, Bargelli was able to continue working well past the age of 70 on demanding projects such as this violin, which he completed with a large and lovingly carved scroll that is a poised assertion of his mastery. Like many other top-tier Italian violins, this instrument also has a few repaired worm holes around the blocks at the ribs; in the course of meticulously setting up this instrument, our restoration experts reviewed these areas and determined that they do not affect the violin’s sound in any way. It is in very good condition, free of cracks and ready to play, and it offers sophisticated musicians the full spectrum of the multifaceted interpretations.