Michael Fischer inlaid violin, 2000, copy of Nicholaus Gagliano, Los Angeles, USA

bold, spirited, projecting

About the Instrument
This violin is a notably versatile instrument, with sweet upper registers as well as warm and powerful lower registers. Its amber varnish is applied over a gold ground. Its flames run along its two-piece back and ribs. This is modeled on a 1777 Nicolò Gagliano down to its ornamentations. This includes a stamp on its button: “D.G.M.” (“Dei Gratia Maria” or “God’s Grace Mary”). Perhaps this violin’s most splendid physical feature is the beautiful decoration of dot-and-diamond purfling along the edges, making it a remarkably striking instrument. Like This violin is in excellent condition.

Interior label reads: “Nicolaus Gagliano / 1777”
Length: 358mm
Upper Bouts: 169mm
Middle: 119mm
Lower Bouts: 209mm

About the Maker
Michael Fischer is a living luthier who was born and raised in Germany. He attended the Mittenwald Violin Making School before moving to London to assist Dietrich Kessler at Withers, making viola-da-gambas. While in London, Fischer also worked with Charles Beare, the renowned luthier and violin dealer. While working in Beare’s shop, Fischer accomplished difficult restorations on the instruments there. Fischer moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s, working in Hans Weisshar’s atelier, then opening his own shop in 1984. Fischer takes particular joy in making copies of specific instruments, as is the case with this gorgeous violin.