J.J. Gilbert violin, 1886, New Romney, Kent | Metzler Violins

Crafted in the year 1886, this Jeffrey James Gilbert violin ranks amongst the instruments with which J. J. Gilbert completed his informal training. As the son of an old Kentish family, he was not permitted to undergo a luthier's standard training since his father had intended for him to pursue another professional path. However, in his interactions with outstanding masters and aficionados of the craft he aspired to, Gilbert found sources of guidance and patrons who helped the highly talented young man with a burning passion for his art to become the exceptional artist whose mastery can be seen in this instrument, his op. 47 – around the time he won a number of silver and gold medals at major exhibitions. The violin's aesthetically appealing and elegant model is defined by its unmistakable and highly distinctive model and reflects the multi-facetted influences which Gilbert studied and integrated into his personal style. Made of the finest tone woods, most notably the flamed maple of rare beauty used for the two-piece back, the perfectly crafted body features broad bee-sting corners and exquisitely applied purfling. Inside the instrument is J. J. Gilbert's dated original label and signature, leaving no doubt about the authenticity of this violin. The orange-brown oil varnish was specially formulated, a topic that was of great fascination to Gilbert throughout his entire career, and over the course of time opus 47 developed charming crackling.