Bearing the label "Laurentius Bellafontana fecit Genuae Anno Domini 1943," this violin is the work of Lorenzo (Laurentius) Bellafontana (1906–1979), a distinguished member of the Genoese school and a pupil of Oreste Candi. The Latin label translates to "Laurentius Bellafontana made [this] in Genoa in the year of Our Lord 1943" and includes his characteristic LBG monogram and handwritten signature. Bellafontana's violins are admired for their refined craftsmanship, warm Italian tone, elegant design, responsive playability, and rich orange-red varnish, making them highly regarded examples of 20th-century Italian violin making.
Bearing the label "Laurentius Bellafontana fecit Genuae Anno Domini 1943," this violin is attributed to Lorenzo (Laurentius) Bellafontana (1906–1979), one of the leading luthiers of the 20th-century Genoese school of violin making. A pupil of the renowned Oreste Candi, Bellafontana established his own workshop in Genoa in 1935 and later earned the distinction of serving as curator of Niccolò Paganini's famous Il Cannone violin. The label, written in traditional Latin, reads "Laurentius Bellafontana made [this] in Genoa in the year of Our Lord 1943" and features his characteristic LBG monogram and handwritten signature.
Bellafontana's violins are celebrated for their refined craftsmanship, elegant proportions, warm Italian tonal character, and excellent balance across all four strings. Finished with a rich orange-red varnish over a golden ground, his instruments are admired for their responsive playability, clear projection, and expressive sound. Today, Bellafontana's work remains highly regarded by musicians and collectors as a fine representation of the enduring traditions of Italian violin making.
Check out this Ryszard Osowski Violin Model BR with Certificate. Ryszard Osowski is a Polish luthier who was able to gradually perfect the sound and quality of his instruments, concentrating more on building his own stringed instrument, passionately rearing towards crafting highly advanced violins.
A violin made and labelled in 1917 by Leandro Bisiach (1864 – 1945) of Milan, an Italian violin maker born in Casale Monferratos, known as the father of violin makers in the Bisiach family.
This Ryszard Osowski Gold model violin was built in the finest craftsmanship by Ryzard Osowski in Forchheim, Germany, dated 2024.
Ryszard Osowski, born in 1966, is a Polish luthier who moved to Muggendorf, Germany in 1993. Living with his uncle, he learned the local tradition of building stringed instruments and eventually perfected the sound and quality of his instruments after 25 years of experimentation. He now focuses on crafting advanced violins while occasionally creating cellos and violas.
The Rainer W. Leonhardt Mittenwald Student Violin 2026 is a handcrafted German violin made in Mittenwald using carefully selected European spruce and maple. Offering a warm, balanced tone, excellent playability, and dependable craftsmanship, it is an ideal instrument for advancing students seeking an authentic European-made violin with outstanding value and musical performance.
Rainer W. Leonhardt is a fourth-generation Master Violin Maker whose family workshop has handcrafted fine string instruments since 1926. Based in Mittenwald, Germany, he continues more than 350 years of local violin-making tradition, producing instruments renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, beautiful tone, and lasting quality.
This is an A. Dieudonne Violin made in Mirecourt in about 1933. Amédée Dominique Dieudonné is a French luthier who specializes in copying the works of Cremona masters.
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.
Handcrafted in Mittenwald, Bavaria, the Master 2022 Violin reflects the finest German luthiery traditions. Built from aged spruce and maple, it delivers a warm, balanced tone with excellent projection, enhanced by a hand-applied golden-brown varnish. Each instrument requires over 120 hours of meticulous work, making it both a performance tool and a piece of art.
Its maker, Rainer W. Leonhardt, is a Geigenbaumeister trained at the renowned Mittenwald violin-making school. Since taking over the Leonhardt workshop in 1997, he has continued a 350-year legacy of craftsmanship, blending traditional methods with artistic precision. His violins, violas, and cellos are sought worldwide for their tonal richness and timeless beauty.
The Rainer W. Leonhardt 2025 "November Bird" Violin is a handcrafted master violin made in Mittenwald, Germany, featuring a stunning one-piece bird's-eye maple back, a two-piece European spruce top, and a beautifully antiqued dark brown spirit varnish. Built from carefully selected tonewoods and crafted with traditional German craftsmanship, it delivers a warm, responsive tone with excellent projection.
Rainer W. Leonhardt is a fourth-generation master violin maker whose family workshop has been producing fine string instruments since 1926. Based in the historic violin-making town of Mittenwald, Germany, Leonhardt is renowned for combining traditional craftsmanship with exceptional tonal quality, creating instruments that are appreciated by musicians around the world.