Fine contemporary violin by Philippe Mahu, Paris 2020

Contemporary French master violin by Philippe Mahu – an exceptionally beautiful instrument from one of the most interesting French violin makers of our time, for the highest musical demands.

Philippe Mahu is a sought-after violin maker and senior employee at the renowned Vatelot-Rampal company. As a specialist in restoration and tonal adjustment, he regularly works on top-quality historical instruments for leading international soloists. Since 2002, he has also been building his own instruments, with which he has won numerous awards at virtually all major international competitions.

Philippe Mahu developed a passion for music and working with wood at an early age. After completing his training, he worked first with Joël Mentec from 1981 to 1986 and then with1987 in the renowned workshop of Etienne Vatelot, where he joined permanently in 1988. Today, he works at Vatelot-Rampal with Vatelot's successor, Jean-Jacques Rampal, and is responsible for training young violin makers, among other things. Built in 2020, this violin's flawless beauty and perfect craftsmanship reveal that building new violins is not just a side project for Philippe Mahu, but a way to express his talent, his enormous experience, and his highly developed aesthetic sense.The wide-reaching edge inlay is as perfect a piece of fine craftsmanship as the masterfully carved scroll with its delicately blackened tone hole. The edge inlay, which extends far into the corners, is just as perfect a piece of fine craftsmanship as the masterfully carved scroll with its delicately blackened edges. The fine to medium-aged spruce of the top and the narrowly flamed maple of the two-piece back, set in an exceptional symmetry, are first-class tonewoods, which are enhanced both aesthetically and acoustically by the luminous, transparent varnish. In perfect, mint condition with the original maker's label, this modern French Philippe Mahu violin meets the highest musical standards with a mature, warm sound whose character is both sweet and dark and radiantly brilliant. dark tones and is radiantly brilliant.

French master violin by Philippe Mahu – Overview

• Original dated label
• Personal work of a senior employee of the Vatelot-Rampal company
• Perfect, ready-to-play condition
• Excellent, mature and brilliant sound with individual character

• 2006 VSA Competition, Baltimore, USA: Merit Award, Violin
• 2008 VSA Competition, Cleveland, USA: Merit Award, Violin
• 2009 Viola Competition, Paris: 2nd Prize, Viola
• 2010 6th International Violin Making Competition Mittenwald: Gold medal for viola
• 2011 4th International Violin Making Competition Concours Etienne Vatelot, Paris: Gold Medal Violin
• Special prize GLAAF (Groupement des Luthiers et Archetiers d'Art de France): Highest score for craftsmanship, viola
• 2012 VSA Competition, Cleveland, USA: Silver medal for viola
• 2014 7th International Violin Making Competition, Mittenwald: Bronze medal for violin
• 2015 Triennale Internazionale Cremona: Honorable mention, viola
• 2016 13th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Making Competition, Poznan: Bronze Medal Violin
• 2021 Triennale Internazionale Cremona: Honorable Mention Viola