European unlabelled violin, 18th century

The maker of this attractive and intriguing mid-late eighteenth century violin has drawn his inspiration from the work of Guarneri del Gesu, while embracing stylistic elements from the Amati family and his own imagination. For much of the eighteenth century outside Italy, makers favoured high, rounded arching in the style of Jacobus Stainer. Towards the end of this period, when larger performing venues demanded greater projection, Stradivari and Guarneri models became more fashionable. The upper registers have brilliance, and the lower strings a very characterful throatiness.