German "Richard Duke" violin

The famous eighteenth century English maker Richard Duke has been widely imitated, with his “Stainer” style modelling reproduced with varying success by generations of Vogtland workshops. Happily, this German violin, stamped “DUKE LONDON” below the button, follows a more graceful “Nicolo Amati” model, which gives it warmth, clarity and resonance in the upper registers. In contrast, the lower strings have a throaty character you can really dig your bow into. The violin is finished with a red-brown varnish that has been subtly antiqued.