Carolus Joseph Dvorak Violin, Prague 1936

Another great 20th century Prague violin, this time by Carolus Joseph Dvořak. It’s in near mint condition, complete with an original sales receipt from 1937 and an original case.

We never tire of singing the praises of the 20th century Prague makers. This extraordinary city has long been a centre of excellence for classical music and for violinmaking, and the early 20th century saw a proliferation of great makers.

Carolus Joseph Dvořak is one of the more respected names – he was part of a long dynasty but his work is very modern. He was an exacting craftsman, popular and successful in his day.

This is a rare Guarneri model, described by the maker in his invoice as a “master concert instrument”. The condition is excellent – there are no cracks or damages. The violin comes with its original fittings, as well as the original bridge and a case supplied by Dvořak – you can scroll through the thumbnails for photos of these.

This is indeed a “concert” violin, brilliant, projecting and muscular. It likes a big technique and it will withstand any amount of bow pressure, even close to the bridge. There’s plenty of growl in the G but it’s the high register that really stands out, big, clear and resonant right up to the top of the fingerboard.

A flat-arched model built for power, this would be a great violin for a budding soloist on a budget. It’s also an exceptionally well preserved and collectable example of this maker’s best work.