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.
This violin was sold (not made by) AE Smith, Australia's most famous violin maker.
It is made in Germany.
Arthur Edward Smith (1880-1978) was an English-Australian luthier widely regarded as Australia's most important violin maker. His violins and violas are highly valued for their tone and decorative elements, such as sound holes and scrolls. Some musicians consider his violas to be among the greatest ever created.
Smith was born in England and trained as an engineer before joining an antique and musical instruments firm.
In the 1910s, he 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.
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.
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 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.
Over 25 years, Ryszard conducted numerous experiments, conducted intensive studies, gained valuable experiences, and was influenced by his colleagues, all of which contributed to his gradual perfection of the sound and quality of his instruments.
We have here a Lillo Salerno Italian violin made in 2019. Lillo Salerno is an Italian luthier born in Sicily, Italy. He went to Cremona Violin Making School then finished his studies in Mittenwald School of Violin Making in Germany in 2005.
Instrument - Violin
Model- Personalized Stradivari
Top - Italian spruce in two pieces
Back - Balkan maple in two pieces
Scroll - From the same wood as the back
Varnish - Oil and amber with a yellow background, red-brown violin.
Notes - The instrument was made with an antique and shows a black bevel on the scroll and points of the bouts.
