Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 2005
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Eric Benning
The Violin
Eric Benning made this Stradivari model violin in 2005, and it closes a chapter in American violin making. It was the last violin he made together with his great-uncle, Carl Becker Jr. He chose the finest Bavarian spruce and Bosnian maple, with a one-piece back.
The tone is clear, powerful and rich. In short, this 2005 Stradivari violin by Eric Benning is a fantastic sounding instrument. It has the strength a working professional needs. Its voice also rewards a careful player, because it answers both power and nuance.
A professional musician played it for years and took the best possible care of it. Then, on retiring, the musician brought it back to us for sale. So this Eric Benning violin from 2005, a Stradivari model, returned to the workshop where it began.
Few instruments carry this kind of lineage. Two generations of the Becker school meet in this 2005 Stradivari violin by Eric Benning. For a player or collector, that history adds meaning to an already fine instrument.
The Maker
Carl F. Becker Jr. stands among the most acclaimed American makers, and he was Eric Benning’s great-uncle. Eric trained with him, so he absorbed the Becker school at the bench, not from books.
Before that, Eric had already started at age 11 under his violinmaking parents. As a result, he became a third-generation luthier with deep family roots in the craft.
Today he serves as the house luthier of Benning Violins in Los Angeles. He still honors the Italian masters, although his tonal approach stays modern. Teachers, soloists and orchestra members play his violins, including several from the LA Philharmonic.
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.