Just in is an exceptional and glamorous violin by Paul Bailly of 1900. The setting-up has nearly been completed, and the price is likely to be £13,000. Also I have violins by Jean Striebig and Claude Chevrier.

French violins

Ref:1698

Caressa & Francais, Paris, 1914

£15,000

Images here

Ref:1478A

Claude Chevrier, Mirecourt

£6,200

Ref:1601A

Jean Striebig, Mirecourt, 1937

£3,800

Ref:283

Mirecourt, late 19^th Century

£2,100

Ref:CL

Mirecourt School, late 19^th Century

£2,000

Ref:554

French, Jombar workshop, Paris 1934

£1,900

Ref:JRW

French violin

£1,900

Ref:412H

Mirecourt School, late 19^thC.,labelled L.Bernadel

£1,650

Ref:572

French violin

£1,300

Ref:217

French violin

£1,250

Ref:K2FC

Bernard Simon Fendt, London, circa 1810, with Beare certificate

£27,000

Ref:1897

Tobin/Arthur Betts school, London, circa 1840

£18,500

Ref:1950A

Joseph Hill, London, circa 1775

£17,500

Ref:JM

Bela Szepessy, London, 1919

£13,000

Ref:K2FC

Lockey Hill, London, circa 1770

£8,000

Images here

Ref:538B

Hart, London, 1899

£3,500

Ref:1290A

John Martin, 1880

£2,600

Ref:A.A.

Cahusac, London, 1786

£2,500

German violins

Ref:1479

Grigori Ferdinand Wenger, Augsburg, 1762, in almost perfect state

£8,500

Ref:RRT2

Nurnberg School, 18th Century,

£3,500

Ref:1327C

Mittenwald School

£1,100

Ref:M.H.

Dresden school, circa 1930

£1,600

Ref:212B

Berlin school, labelled Ruggieri

£1,550

Ref:597K

German

£1,275

Ref:1039H

Dresden, circa 1920

£960

Ref:412I

German, labelled Muncher, 1940

£940

Ref:546

Saxon school, circa 1920

£750

Ref:1195

Gewa

£580 + VAT

Ref:842

Schlesinger

£550

Other nationality violins

I have a serious violin by Joseph filius Andrea Guarneri, dated 1706. It has a straightforward certificate from Jacques Francais of New Yark, dated February 1985. It's in good condition, too, except there is not much varnish left - which shows it has been played a great deal. Contact me for further details.

Ref:A10RGS

Italian, early 18th Century. An interesting instrument with an old repairer's inscription under the table. The Hill's described it as "Goffriller School". It sounds wonderful

£16,500

Ref:1959

Italian, 18th Century, with a useless certificate saying it is by a maker I have not heard of. However, it really is an old Italian instrument, and sounds very well indeed.

£enquire

Ref: J.H.

Andreas Renisto

£7,500

Ref:1465A

Aristide Cavalli, Cremona, 1923

£5,800

Ref:K2FC

Dutch 18^th Century. A gorgeous-sounding instrument, with a very plain yellow back and whalebone purfling. It looks like something from a Dutch still life painting.

£9,500

Ref:1544

Irish, by Perry & Wilkinson, 1815

£5,500

Small, Half & Three-Quarter Size Violins

I always have a selection of good small-sized violins. This means that I do not sell the most basic school instruments for beginners - these may be purchased from a high street shop. My stock is meant for children who are clearly going to be good players, and who deserve something that is a serious instrument, not a toy.

Because children grow, my small-sized violins do not tend to stay in any one family's possession for more than two years. Provided they have been looked after I am perfectly willing to re-purchase them at the full price in exchange for the next, larger, instrument.

Viola players are difficult to please - no two players ever seem to want the same length instrument, or if they do, they want different widths and rib depths and so on. A list is therefore meaningless - it cannot possibly convey enough information to help a potential player. However my stock is changing all the time, of course. It is best to phone and let me know the kind of thing you are looking for. I'll be able to tell you if I have anything suitable. At the moment (January 12th 2010) I have a beautiful small-but-sounds-wonderful viola by James & Henry Banks of Salisbury, dated 1808. The back is only 15 3/8 long. Despite its beauty, the last two hundred years have taken their toll, for it has repairs to the neck block and to a soundpost crack in the back. So it would suit someone who has always longed for a good named instrument but who never thought they could afford one.

I have a few new violas, including a beautiful instrument, just over 16 inches, by Michaela Wedemeyer at £5,500, and two others by Philip Walters. Of course I have several 19th Century German and French violas too.

My best cello is by Thomas Kennedy. It is of standard size, with a back length of29 7/16 in. (749mm.) It is an extraordinary find, having been stored for very many years. It has its original label, and sounds very well. £45,000.

An interesting smallish Saxon cello, dating from the late 18th Century, is available as of Feb 21st 2010. I wrote a blog about this, and images of it can be seen in that bit of my website.

I have a very small (only 28in long, and narrow) 18th Century French cello in frankly poor condition at £2,500, two more nineteenth century French cellos and five nineteenth Century German cellos ranging from £2,500 to £6,800. I have a wonderful instrument by Paul Bailly, 1893. This cello, in wonderful condition, was Bailly's very first made in England, and is numbered 1. It has had only two owners from new. The last time it was sold was in 1950, and that was by the well-know English maker, Arthur Richardson. His original letter accompanies the instrument.

I have thirteen new instruments of varying qualities ranging from around £1,500 to £6,800.