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Workmanship

There are three main aspects governing the making process: original design, shaping of the material according to its mechanical and acoustic properties, and varnish quality.

The model reflects the idea the violin maker has about the instrument. Drawing original forms and shapes is considered as the main artistic expression of the luthier. Through this exercise, he casts his aesthetic preferences into his own set of lines. Copying instruments, although helpful to understand how to achieve good results, is less favourable to personal ideas. It is possible to use techniques the craftsmen of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries possessed to truly understand the root scheme behind the masters’ instruments of the golden period. The luthier’s personal voice can then be heard loud and clear…

Sculpture work is carried out in order to create a unique and evocative object. Vigorous and incisive shapes, recalling the use of hand tools, leaves no doubt about its origin. French and Italian traditional techniques are adapted to the contemporary workshop context.

Quality of tone and playability are major elements determining the real musical value of an instrument. To achieve constant results, the maker uses techniques based on the experiments of influent acousticians. The very first concern is about the choice of wood. Every single piece of wood is precisely tested to determine its very own density (weight) and elasticity modulus (mechanical strength), so it is possible to know exactly what gets into each instrument. This accurate description of the materials allows better control over the choice of the pattern, the shape of the arching, and the thickness of the vibrating plates. It also helps to identify defective woods, so only the best possible result is foreseen. Frequent verifications with acoustic measuring tools are made during the process to make sure the instrument will retain the best possible sound as well as all its structural strength. This specific control produces easy playing instruments with truly individual voices.

The varnish finally seals the wood in a rich but thin coat of light. The oil varnish used is based on traditional finishing principles adapted to contemporary practice. The pure balsam fir colophony used preserves the incomparable transparency of the varnish and the shy use of pigments gives it an appealing subtle color.