Handmade violins are each special instruments because they look, sound, and feel different. This is part of the special touch of handmade instruments and the antiqued violins even more. Our collection of antiqued violins includes masterfully carved and meticulously handcrafted instruments from some of the finest luthiers in the world. They’re perfect for any musician looking for something special.
Antiqued violins are part of a maker’s process for making copies too, which is actually a very interesting topic in the violin-making world. Not every maker can master the skills needed to make faithful and high-quality copies. Every luthier has his or her own preferences and inspirations. These preferences and inspirations contribute to each maker’s style, which is ultimately defined by the maker’s individual methods.
Therefore, today we want to present you, our skilled violin makers who handmade antiqued violins:
Gibertoni & Nalin
Stefano Gibertoni and Valerio Nalin work together to make violins, violas, and cellos in their workshop in Milan. Stefano’s experience in construction, making, and setup combine Valerio’s youthful spirit and enthusiasm to create a dynamic duo.
In the partnership, they combine very traditional methods but also rely on technology and science. A beautiful, powerful, and even tone is a consistent aspect of their production that has been recognized by clients and in international competitions alike; this, coupled with a detailed and realistic antiqued look, has proven a winning combination.
Gaian Amorim
He built his first violin at age 15 and since then has worked with his father, the master Luiz Amorim, in the evolution of their making. At age of five, he began his studies of flute and at eight violin studies, also participating in the Suzuki Orchestra of Curitiba.
In addition to his academic studies in Foreign Trade at Positivo University, Gaian also did courses in drawing and painting, studied violin making at the Academia Cremonensis, worked alongside Filippo Fasser and has participated in competitions, workshops, and exhibitions around the world.
Pierre Flavetta
After graduating from the Istituto Italiano di Stradivari in Cremona, Pierre researched ancient alchemy, focusing on old violin makers’ varnish. He began building copies of these masters’ instruments to get as close as possible to the construction and varnishing methods used in the violin-making golden period. This led him to combine historical research with both aesthetic and acoustic results.
Andrea Giovannetti
After being introduced to violin making at a young age, Andrea Giovannetti devoted himself to violin making and worked under the private tutelage of Master violin maker Luca Primon. He later began a learning relationship with Master violin maker Gianmaria Stelzer.
In 2018, he won a grant to participate in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program of the European Union. He was able to apprentice with Master violin maker Andreas Hudelmayer in London, where he learned techniques in copying and antiquing.
Hiller & Son
Bernd Wölz and his son Daniel work together in their workshop, creating violins with a rich tone and easy playability. Bernd got his master’s diploma in 1986, studying under violin maker Bernhard Wölz. Daniel followed in his father’s footsteps, and they now make violins together.
They make each instrument to be easy to play, rich in overtones, and comfortable in the hand and neck.
Fabio Volta
Fabio was born and raised in Cremona, a city in northern Italy renowned for its violin-making tradition. He combined his passion for playing instruments with his ability to work with his hands and became a maker of violins himself. After graduating from the local violin-making school, he began honing his craft by learning from great makers of that time.
From 2000 to 2005, he taught at the Cremona violin-making school, holding professionalizing courses in advanced classes and deepening the volute’s construction at a technical and stylistic level.
He owns various original models of great luthiers from the 20th century, including those by Garimberti and Stefanini. He uses varnish of all kinds (alcohol, oil, and mixed), dedicating a lot of time to studying each of them. He makes his own pigments for the varnish, usually orange in color on a golden background. Lately, he prefers oil.