French “Guiseppe Maravelli” violin, 1890

In the 1890’s, the English company Beare and Sons purchased violins from the French violin making town of Mirecourt, and labelled them with the name of a fictitious Italian: “Guiseppe Maravelli”, adding verisimilitude with a half-handwritten date, to distinguish them from their undated, commercial cousins. This well-made “Amati” copy violin, made in 1890, is a good example, with its strongly-flamed maple back, elegant arching and crisply carved edges. The tone is very appealing, with richness and warmth in the lower registers, a bell-like clarity on the upper strings, and an overall evenness of response and playability.