Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1870
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Gand & Bernardel
The Violin
This Gand & Bernardel violin dates from 1870 and survives in mint condition. Its one-piece maple back shows a beautiful flame. A rich red varnish sits over a golden ground.
The tone comes with ease, bright and rich at once. So the player spends less effort and gains more color. The back measures 35.8 cm.
The violin also reflects the firm’s early output, just four years after its founding. In fact, it stands as an outstanding piece of French craftsmanship and artistry. Every detail speaks of Paris workshop discipline. Because the condition is so clean, the original work stays easy to read.
For a player, a violin from Gand & Bernardel offers French elegance and a ready voice. It suits the established musician or the aspiring soloist. Also, its mint state means a new owner inherits very little wear. That is why this 1870 violin by Gand & Bernardel appeals to serious buyers.
The Makers
Charles Nicolas Gand and the Bernardel brothers, Gustave and Ernest, formed the firm in 1866. It quickly grew into a highly prolific and renowned house. Before then, Gand had worked with his brother in the family business. The Bernardel brothers, in turn, came from a Paris violin making family of their own.
From 1866 to 1901, the firm produced over 1,000 instruments and bows. As a result, it became one of the most prominent firms in violin making history. It also trained and employed some of the finest luthiers and archetiers of the time.
Among them were Charles Peccatte and Claude Thomassin. Then, in 1901, Caressa & Français bought the firm. Today, this 1870 violin from Gand & Bernardel represents the house at full strength.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.