Sofia Vettori "Merlo" violin, 2025, Carmel, IN | Metzler Violins

commanding, clear, resonant

About the Instrument
“Merlo” is inspired by a 1740 Santo Serafino model, known for elegance and strong projection. The violin features a rare and gorgeous one-piece bird’s-eye half slab cut maple back, beautifully flamed—an uncommon and striking combination. The top is made from select Italian Alpine spruce. Merlo is very balanced and highly responsive, offering clarity, projection, and ease of playability in every position. It is one of Vettori’s most successful models for both sound projection and comfort under the bow. The varnish, created through Sofia’s personal method, allows the instrument to speak with power and depth from the very first note. The violin comes with a handmade photo album crafted in Florence, documenting its journey from raw wood to the final varnish.

Interior label reads: “Sofia Vettori filla Paoli / Fecit Florentiae A.D. 2025"
Length: 357 mm
Upper Bouts: 170 mm
Middle: 116 mm
Lower Bouts: 205 mm

About the Maker
Sofia Vettori is a contemporary maker who carries forward a 90-year Italian violin-making tradition that began in Tuscany in 1935 with her grandfather. For nearly three decades, she has devoted her life exclusively to crafting new violins, violas, and cellos—each one built entirely by hand, following the classical Italian tradition while guided by her own evolving methods. A guardian of heritage yet unafraid to share knowledge, Sofia believes that art flourishes through generosity, not secrecy. In a field often shaped by hidden formulas, she chose a different path: refining her personal varnish system and openly teaching her approach to makers around the world. Her instruments are played internationally, including within major American symphony orchestras, and are appreciated for their immediate power, depth, and reliability from the very first note. Musicians value not only their tonal character, but the long-term vision behind them—each violin built to mature beautifully over time, both artistically and as a lasting investment. Living between Italy and the United States with her family, Sofia balances tradition and modern life with the same harmony she seeks in her instruments. A mother of three, she finds inspiration in simple acts of creation—whether shaping maple in her workshop, knitting in the evening, cooking lasagna for her boys, or crafting pottery by hand. Her mission is clear: to bring more art, beauty, and abundance into the world—one instrument at a time.