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Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: An 1859 violin by Gulbrand Enger
Jens Stenz takes a look at the Danish maker’s 19th-century instrument
Premium ❘ FeatureTrade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow
Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker
Premium ❘ FeatureIn Focus: A 1753 viola by Carlo Antonio Testore
Sean Bishop takes a look at a relatively rare example of an 18th-century Italian viola
Premium ❘ FeaturePatent pending: instrument innovations in the 18th century
The 18th century saw an explosion in creativity from inventors trying to find the ‘next big thing’ in stringed instrument innovation. Rachael Durkin examines some of the artefacts from the dawn of the industrial age
Premium ❘ FeatureBottesini’s bass makers: the Rossi family
The development of the double bass in 19th-century Milan owed a lot to the Rossi family. Thomas and George Martin investigate the lives of its members, and the innovations they brought to double bass design
NewsRecord breaker: Library of Congress acquires ‘Tuscan-Medici’ Stradivari viola for $30 million
The 1690 instrument is one of less than a dozen surviving violas by the master luthier
- Premium ❘ Feature
Patent pending: instrument innovations in the 18th century
The 18th century saw an explosion in creativity from inventors trying to find the ‘next big thing’ in stringed instrument innovation. Rachael Durkin examines some of the artefacts from the dawn of the industrial age
- Premium ❘ Feature
Bottesini’s bass makers: the Rossi family
The development of the double bass in 19th-century Milan owed a lot to the Rossi family. Thomas and George Martin investigate the lives of its members, and the innovations they brought to double bass design
- News
Record breaker: Library of Congress acquires ‘Tuscan-Medici’ Stradivari viola for $30 million
The 1690 instrument is one of less than a dozen surviving violas by the master luthier
- Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: An 1859 violin by Gulbrand Enger
Jens Stenz takes a look at the Danish maker’s 19th-century instrument
- Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow
Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker
- Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: A 1753 viola by Carlo Antonio Testore
Sean Bishop takes a look at a relatively rare example of an 18th-century Italian viola
Cremona violin shop targeted in TikTok impersonation scam
Amorim Fine Violins has warned musicians to avoid engaging with and report a fake TikTok account offering instruments in exchange for social media promotion
My Space: Bruno Stefanini’s Bologna workshop
The maker presents his workshop in Bologna, where he has worked as a luthier for over 40 years
Auction Report June 2025: Mysteries, masterpieces and memorabilia
Kevin MacDonald examines an eclectic array of lots at the London spring sales, where some fascinating curiosities found buyers
Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: A 1923 violin by Michael Dötsch
Rainer Michael Cocron examines an early 20th-century instrument by the German maker
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Trade secrets: External crack repair using silk
Sharon Que provides an innovative solution to a common – and tricky – repair problem
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Hard and fast rules: tonewood selection
What should luthiers look for when selecting spruce for their next violin top? Jiri Povolny examines the variables and discovers some useful guidelines to take out the guesswork
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Trade Secrets: Varnish retouch
A method for layering pigments and shellac to reproduce the exact colour and thickness of an instrument’s varnish
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In Focus: An 1893 violin by Alexander Smillie
David Rattray presents a late 19th-century violin by the Scottish maker
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Trade Secrets: The ‘Doratura Cremonese’ ground method
How to make and apply a ground coat with a deep golden yellow colour
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Leading the way: the ‘Baron d’Erlanger’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin 1732
Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ made the 1732 ‘Baron d’Erlanger’ violin near the start of his most productive period. Florian Leonhard explores how it shows the maker’s early style and reveals the history of its most famous owner
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Dual accomplishments: the makers of Markneukirchen
The workshops of Markneukirchen and its environs made thousands of violins per year – but many were crafted by true artisans. Bruce Babbitt explains how these violins became the basis for a new book and exhibition charting their evolution
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Franz Geissenhof: the Viennese Stradivari
Franz Geissenhof’s instruments have always been highly regarded, but how far was he influenced by his Cremonese predecessor? Rudolf Hopfner compares a typical Geissenhof violin with Stradivari’s work to find out
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Bow maker James Tubbs: London Calling
The British bow maker James Tubbs was born 190 years ago this month. John Basford looks back at his life, work and legacy to the bow making community
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Dance of the swans: the bows of Charles Nicolas Bazin
The Tourte-model bows by Charles Nicolas Bazin represent the pinnacle of elegance and refinement in the history of French bow making. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the swan-head model, Richard Morency examines some of the finest examples
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‘Master of the violin, artist of the soul’: Władysław Baczyński
Władysław Baczyński overcame a life of tragedy to become one of Poland’s most highly regarded 20th-century violin makers. Grzegorz Kaproń tells his story
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