Hellier Stradivarius, probably François Alexis Maline circa 1850
A typical work for François Alexis Maline, who worked in Mirecourt, France from 1850 to 1880. This violin with a later Collin-Mezin label is a copy of the famous Hellier Stradivarius made around 1850. Like the original made around 1679, Maline's version also impresses with its extraordinary mother-of-pearl inlay, the beautiful, finely grained top and the magnificent, deeply flamed one-piece...
A typical work for François Alexis Maline, who worked in Mirecourt, France from 1850 to 1880. This violin with a later Collin-Mezin label is a copy of the famous Hellier Stradivarius made around 1850. Like the original made around 1679, Maline's version also impresses with its extraordinary mother-of-pearl inlay, the beautiful, finely grained top and the magnificent, deeply flamed one-piece back. The violin comes from Mirecourt, where the indication of origin Paris was not at all uncommon. In very good restored condition, the violin features two well-crafted and aesthetically pleasing top repairs. Its exceptional, strong and resonant sound is bright, open, very resonant, dominant and carrying.
