This is an unusually fine early violin by Nestor Audinot – it’s a Guarneri model in excellent condition, and with a warm and powerful sound.
Nestor Audinot is often groupled along with the various makers who worked in the Vuillaume shop, but in reality he apprenticed with Sébastien Vuillaume, not Jean Baptiste. He became independent in the late 1860s, and this violin dates from this first period.
As with the majority of his instruments, it’s a Guarneri-inspired model – the work and the materials are first class.
A very typical Audinot feature is the sudden hollowing of the pegbox walls as they transition into the volute of the scroll.
Both the front and the back are one-piece – the front has very even grain, the back has a tight flame with a high degree of chattoyance.
The instrument is in excellent condition with no cracks or restoration – there’s a bit of edge wear here and there, there are some minor signs of use, but overall it’s very pure.
Audinot’s instruments are rightly popular – they are well made, they look great and they always sound good.
This example has a rich and earthy quality without sacrificing focus, and the E string is at once brilliant and complex. The model is flat – always good for projection – and the back length isn’t excessive. The tone is even and consistent through out the register, articulation and response are very good – everything about this violin is in the right place.
Overall this is a very well rounded and adaptable violin, mature and confident.
