Pierre Silvestre Violin Lyon France c.1840

This violin was made by Pierre Silvestre around 1840 in Lyon, France. Silvestre was originally born in Sommerviller in 1801 and began his violin making career locally as an apprentice to Blaise after moving to Mirecourt. From here he moved to Paris and worked alongside Nicolas Lupot and Gand pere to further his skills in instrument making. He opened his own workshop in Lyon in 1829 where he worked with his brother Hippolyte from 1831-1848. After this period he worked alone until the end of his life in 1859. His work is faithful to that of the Cremonese models with a tendency towards that of Stradivarius. This violin is in good condition.

This violin is labelled "Pierre Silvestre / a Lyon 1842". The body measures 360mm along the back, 169mm across the upper bouts, and 210mm across the lower bouts. It has a two-piece back of highly flamed maple with a narrow curl, and matching ribs and scroll. The top is of a finely-grained spruce and finished with an amber-brown varnish, rosewood pegs, and a boxwood tailpiece.

This violin has a beautifully even tone across the high and low registers and maintains its clarity and richness at any dynamic. The top register is particularly sparkling, and projects very well in a room of any size. It has an immediate response to bowing changes and pressure, and feels very easy to play. This violin would be most suited to professional players performing in chamber ensemble or solo contexts.

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