Giuseppe Gagliano Violin, Naples circa 1780

This is a fine Neapolitan violin by Giuseppe Gagliano, the most talented son of Nicolo Gagliano. It’s a superb sounding concert instrument in excellent restored condition.

The Gagliano family is one of the most important dynasties in Italian violin-making, and they dominated the Neapolitan scene for well over a century.

While all of the Gagliano family instruments have proved popular with musicians, there is something special about Giuseppe, and this violin is a case in point. Made after a Nicolo Gagliano model, labelled for Nicolo and most likely sold as a Nicolo, the violin is crucially different in its arching, and the tone is much fuller and less “Neapolitan”…

It’s an unusually attractive instrument with beautiful varnish and the most quintessentially Gagliano-esque back. The arching to the table is very full in both dimensions, more restrained on the back.

The condition of the back and ribs is exemplary. The scroll has a very discreet volute graft, and the left eye has been replaced. The table has various restored cracks and a small breast patch, the work carried out to a remarkable standard by Maison Bernard in Brussels – a full condition report is available on request.

We have sold a few Gaglianos and played dozens more but I can honestly say that this is the best sounding example we have come across. It has all the brilliance and verve that you would hope for in a Gagliano, but also a big and muscular core.

Bristling with energy, very responsive, playful but also capable of high seriousness, this is a violin that can cope with the most exposed of performance scenarios.