WG Luk Silky Oak Cello 2022 018

This cello was made by Wei Luk in 2022, in Sydney, Australia. Born in China, Wei Luk developed an early interest in woodworking before becoming involved with music and the violin. Without formal training in violin making, he began repairing bows and damaged instruments at the request of his violin teachers. In 1974, Luk was asked to make a cello for the daughter of a young cello soloist. As payment, her father taught Luk architecture, while friends at the Guangzhou Happiness Stringed Instrument Factory assisted him with the construction. Luk migrated to Australia in 1990 and established himself in Sydney as a maker, repairer and restorer. He makes violins, violas and cellos, bringing a distinctive background in carpentry and instrument repair to his approach to violin making. This cello is labelled " W.G. Luk / Professional String Instruments / DESIGNED AND HANDMADE IN AUSTRALIA / This cello placed 8th place in the Violin Society of / America's 24st International Violin Competition in 2022" and bears his signature and number 18-2022. The body measures 661mm along the back, 349mm across the upper bouts, and 441mm across the lower bouts. The back is in one-piece of birdseye silky oak, a native Australian tone-wood and the ribs, and scroll have been made to match. The top is of a figured bear-claw spruce and the cello has been finished in a golden-brown varnish with ebony fittings.