Charles Gaillard was an apprentice of the prominent French violinmaker and restorer, Charles Adolphe Gand. His tutelage allowed Gaillard to develop a keen eye for fine craftsmanship and indeed, his violins are often noted for their beautiful designs and superior finishes. He favored a natural approach to varnishing, his instruments typically free of shading and artificial ageing. This violin shows his characteristic orange-brown finish, with a reddish tinge here and there.
The violin dates from his residency at 20 rue Notre-Dame de Rouvrance in Paris, where he established independently.
Léon Bernardel (1853–1931) learned violin making under his father, Ernest Auguste Bernardel, and later worked with Derazey before joining the family’s shop, Gand et Bernardel Frères. In 1899, he established his firm, collaborating with his son, Léon (II). Bernardel’s violins are highly celebrated for their rich, warm tone and exceptional projection, a result of his innovative craftsmanship and attention to detail. His instruments remain sought after by musicians and collectors, and his work continues to inspire luthiers to this day.
Introducing the Roberto Cavagnoli Violin 2017. Roberto Cavagnoli received many awards including the Silver Medal for tone quality from the Violin Society of America in 2004 and the third prize at the 11th International Competition ‘Triennale’ in Cremona for sound quality.
This is a French violin by Paul J. B. Chipot, made in 1926. Paul John Baptiste Chipot, the son of Chipot-Vuillaume, was a French luthier who established his own workshop in Vendome in 1923.
In the 1910s, Arthur Edward Smith (1880-1978) established a store in Sydney upon his return to Australia. Smith's workshop on Hunter Street quickly gained a reputation for repairing and selling high-quality stringed instruments. This violin was sold (not made by) AE Smith, Australia's most famous violin maker.
We have here the Orfeo Carletti Violin made in 1932. Orfeo Carletti is an Italian violin maker who opened a workshop together with his father and brother in Bologna.
Victor Audinot (1870-1943), also known as Audinot-Mourot, came from a family of luthiers in Mirecourt. Mentored by Francois Chardin and Telesphore Barbé, Audinot was mainly influenced by Barbé, who had honed his skills working for Jean Baptiste Vuillaume in Paris. This experience helped shape Audinot’s successful career in instrument making.
Victor worked in Mirecourt, known for luthier tradition, before moving to Paris to set up his workshop on Rue Truffaut in 1913. He dedicated himself to his craft until retiring in 1936. He passed his expertise to five of his six sons and aspiring luthiers. Renowned for creating exact replicas of classical instruments, he crafted an exceptional copy of the ornately decorated Stradivari violin known as the ‘Sunrise’, showcasing his artistry.
This 7/8 size violin is labelled Thomas Challoner who worked in Chester, England around 1790. Thomas Challoner was one of the known violin makers in the 18th century.
