Hiroshi Iizuka violin, Philadelphia, 1991 | Metzler Violins

bold, powerful, supple
 
About the Instrument
This violin has a powerful and resonant sound that has a brilliant clarity. The golden varnish is beautifully antiqued. The instrument’s two-piece fiddleback has narrow flaming from the center joint, with flames moving up the scroll.

[further details forthcoming] 

About the Maker
Hiroshi Iizuka (1945- ), was born in Maebashi, Japan. In his early twenties, Iizuka attempted to make guitars, before focusing on violins and beginning a two-year apprenticeship with the founder and headmaster of the Tokyo Violin Making School Soroku Murata. Iizuka then moved to Mittenwald, Germany where he earned his Journeyman’s diploma with honors from the German Chamber of Handwork. In 1977, Iizuka moved to the Philadelphia with his wife, the luthier Daniela Stern. Stern worked at the William Moennig & Son violin shop while Iizuka established his workshop. He made a name for himself in 1982 when the violist Emanuel Vardi bought one of his instruments. Iizuka’s pieces became quickly highly sought after by musicians around the world—Michael Tree of the Guarneri Quartet played an Iizuka viola. Indeed, his violas are especially renowned, as he developed a “Rubenesque” viola model with ergonomic enhancements. His violins are no less masterful, with thoughtful crafting and gorgeous sound.