Violin Sold By A E Smith
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.