“A violin's age is not counted in years but in moments of bliss“
For many musicians, a violin is more than just an instrument. Especially old violins with their mature, individual character are true companions in orchestra playing, chamber music and solo performance. Corilon violins online catalogue features a hand-selected collection of antique violins for sale that inspire the serious player with their delicate workmanship, selected wood and fine antique varnish. Beginners and advanced players alike appreciate old and antique violins for their richness in tone and as a desirable alternative with a good investment value. Take a look at our helpful information on signs of quality and value of an old violin.
German, French and Italian violins online
Discover Corilon's curated collection of German, French and Italian violins for sale; these attractive hand-made violins feature a wide range of different characteristics and date back to different periods. Carefully selected antique violins, Italian violins, beautiful old violas, and top-quality violin bows and other fine stringed instruments full of personality and character are competently are lovingly set up and restored by our professional violin makers and made ready to play. You may also search our website for violins for sale by a special maker origin or sound by typing e. g. "Italian violin", or "French violin" into the search box. Fine German, French and Italian violins and master violins for sale at Corilon violins: each one professionally worked over and approved by our qualified violin maker. Purchase violins with confidence at Corilon: each one presented with an audio sound sample, extensive historical background information, a 30 days returns option, a trade guarantee and an optional violin certificate. We will be happy to recommend the best sounding violins and suggest a suitable bow for your order - email us for recommendations.
About Italian violins
Italian violins, especially violins from Cremona, enjoy an outstanding reputation in the music world and are widely regarded as the ultimate in virtuoso artisanry and excellent acoustic properties. And this belief not only applies solely to the masterpieces of the “golden age” of Cremona in which Antonio Stradivari, Nicolò Amati and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù brought the modern violin model to the heights which to this day serve as the internationally acknowledged and unsurpassed standard of artisanry. It is their accomplishments and the craft tradition of Italian lutes and violins dating far back to the late Middle Ages which even allowed the Cremonese violin makers to achieve what they did, and over the centuries their traditions assumed the nature of a benchmark standard that served as a point of reference, even for the characteristic styles of violin making traditions in other countries. For example, Italy served as an indispensable source of both knowledge and inspiration as well as premium-quality materials for the work of such masters as Tyrolean Jakob Stainer, whose instruments were more popular than the Italian classics up until the early 19th century. In the 20th century, a new circle of excellent masters formed on the fringes of the violin making school in Cremona. Yet the major role of this historic venue should not detract from the virtues of other regional Italian violin making traditions that also featured perfectly crafted and distinctive pieces which are worthy heirs of Amati, Stradivari and Guarneri – and continually re-interpret the Italian violin anew. Italian violins for sale with a magnificent sound and outstanding craftsmanship from the cradle of violin making.
What is a good violin made of?
A good antique violin is traditionally handmade by a luthier from raw blocks of wood, the tonewood. The tonewood is seasoned for several decades before a violin is made, to remove moisture as much as possible and to prevent the wood from structurally working and warping with changes in temperature and humidity. A violin consists of a carved scroll made of maple or sycamore, the one or two piece back made of maple or sycamore, ribs made of maple, a one or two piece top made of spruce; as well as the wear parts pegs, fingerboard and tailpiece, which are replaced over the decades. The softer boxwood is also used for pegs and tailpiece, but it is less durable than hard wood like ebony. The acoustic elements of the violin are the soundpost, bridge and bass bar. These have a significant influence on the violin's sound and are regularly modified or replaced by the luthier. The violin principle evolved in Italy from its invention by Amati, culminating in the work of Stradivari. Read more on the history of the violin in our library section.
