A.E. Smith Violin Sydney Australia 1957

This violin was made by the ‘father of Australian violin makers’ Arthur Edward Smith in Sydney, in 1957. Smith was born in 1880 in London and migrated to Australia in 1909. After spending just a few years in Melbourne, Smith lived for two years in San Francisco before moving back to Australia in 1914, opening a shop in Sydney. Throughout Smith’s almost 50 years in Sydney, now well-known Australian violin-makers such as Guy Aubrey Griffin, William Dolphin, Lloyd Adams, Ronald Cragg, Phillip Burgess, Cedric Clarke and Harry Vatiliotis began their careers and training here. Between 1897 and 1970 Smith made close to 200 violins, 40 violas and 3 cellos. Smith’s instruments became sought after by prominent violinists of the time including Isaac Stern, Ruggieri Ricci, Yehudi Menuhin and David Oistrakh. Smith passed away in 1978 in Canberra at age 98.

It is labelled "Arthur E Smith Sydney / Faciebat Anno 1957". The body measures 352mm along the back, 161mm across the upper bouts and 202mm across the lower bouts. It has a one-piece back of highly flamed maple with a narrow curl, with matching ribs and scroll. The top is off a finely grained spruce, and the violin is finished with a gold-brown varnish, and a stained-boxwood tailpiece and pegs. It is in good condition.