Archive

More detailed information about stringed instruments and the history of violin making.

Morizot père et Morizot frères: the short history of a great family of bow makers

Eugène Nicolas Sartory: the modern classic of bow making

The Classical violin bow (The violin bow, part II)

Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume: notes on his life and work

“The finest approach to handling wood”: Hieronymus Köstler

International violin making competitions: Ente Triennale Cremona, Concours Etienne Vatelot, VSA competition, Mittenwald violin making competition and other contests

Violin makers and masters: archive "A-C"

German 3/4 violin. Saxony, Friedrich Herpel

This German 3/4 violin is an extraordinarily well preserved and beautiful instrument that was made in the 1920s by an unknown violin maker in Saxony. The original label "Friedrich Herpel Herford" refers presumably to a dealer near the German city of Hannover. The medium grained spruce of the top and the mildly flamed maple of the two-piece back are premium tonewoods, with a beautiful texture that is enhanced by the light-brown colored, glossy and shimmering varnish, that bears only very few traces of use. The instrument is in excellent, almost mint condition and was thoroughly worked over by our luthier, who made it ready to unfold its bright, open sound, that is rich in overtones, with a comfortably warm character.