Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 2013
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Eric Benning
The Violin
Tomasso Balestrieri worked in Mantua, and his bold violins inspired this copy, which Eric Benning made in 2013. Benning built the Balestrieri violin in his Los Angeles workshop. The back measures 35.3 cm.
A copy asks the maker to study an original closely, from outline to arching. So this 2013 violin shows Eric Benning working in close dialogue with the Balestrieri model. That discipline gives the instrument a clear point of reference. It also connects a modern Los Angeles workshop with an eighteenth century Italian one.
His Balestrieri bench copies have become highly sought after. In fact, this Eric Benning violin from 2013 belongs to that same Balestrieri line of work. It also shows how he reads the Mantuan style through a modern maker’s eyes.
A player drawn to the Mantuan school would value this Balestrieri violin, made by Eric Benning in 2013. It also gives collectors a dated example of a sought-after model. For that reason, it holds a clear place in his catalog.
The Maker
Eric Benning learned his craft first from his violinmaking parents, starting at age 11. Later, he trained with his great-uncle, the acclaimed American maker Carl F. Becker Jr.
That path made him a third-generation luthier. He combines the traditions of the Italian masters with a modern approach to tone. That blend runs through every model he builds, including his Balestrieri copies.
Over the years he has handcrafted more than 145 stringed instruments. Today he works as the house luthier of Benning Violins in Los Angeles. His violins reach distinguished teachers, soloists and orchestra members, including several LA Philharmonic players.
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.