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In the layers of light: the ground coat

2026-01-30T10:44:00

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What is the ground coat – and more importantly, what is it for? Pierre Flavetta examines the properties and visual effects of this mysterious pre-varnish instrument coating

The word ‘ground’ is one of the most frequently used, and least precisely defined, terms in violin making. Ask ten luthiers what it means and you may receive ten different answers. For some, it’s a clear, glossy coating applied before varnish. For others, it’s a series of chemical treatments meant to age and preserve the wood. For many, it remains an intangible step in the finishing process, something you ‘just feel’ your way through. This vagueness isn’t due to laziness or mysticism; rather, it reflects a real gap in both our analytical tools and our vocabulary…

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