A magnificent viola by the Bohemian violin maker Josef Vavra (1912–1998). I am offering this viola on consignment from a musician who commissioned Josef Vavra to made it in the mid-1980s. An interesting detail is that the musician traveled to the workshop in Luby several times and was able to see the instrument while Vavra was crafting it. Born in Prague, Josef Vavra came from a renowned family of violin makers. The lineage began with his uncle, Jan Baptista Vávra, who settled in Prague after completing his training as a violin maker and became a highly esteemed maker there. Josef apprenticed with his uncle from 1927 to 1931. He subsequently worked in Prague for his cousin Alfons before moving to Luby in 1945. There, he made over 350 instruments and served as an instructor at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona until 1969. He won prizes in Prague (1st prize for a viola in 1954), Poznań (1st prize for a violin in 1957), and Liège (gold medal in 1960). He was also a co-founder of the Association of Czech Violin Makers.
Josef Vavra’s exceptional craftsmanship is clearly evident in this viola, particularly in the meticulously carved details of the scroll, the elegant f-holes, and the tasteful orange-red varnish, which beautifully highlights the grain of the high-quality tonewood. For the top, Vavra used strongly flamed maple, and for the back, fine and very even-grained spruce. Its 41 cm body length makes it an exceptionally playable viola with a powerful, radiantly clear, and brilliant timbre that allows for diverse musical interpretations. A unique opportunity to play a magnificent master instrument at a price point where one would normally only have a choice of simpler instruments.
A magnificent viola by the Bohemian violin maker Josef Vavra (1912–1998). I am offering this viola on consignment from a musician who commissioned Josef Vavra to made it in the mid-1980s. An interesting detail is that the musician traveled to the workshop in Luby several times and was able to see the instrument while Vavra was crafting it. Born in Prague, Josef Vavra came from a renowned family of violin makers. The lineage began with his uncle, Jan Baptista Vávra, who settled in Prague after completing his training as a violin maker and became a highly esteemed maker there. Josef apprenticed with his uncle from 1927 to 1931. He subsequently worked in Prague for his cousin Alfons before moving to Luby in 1945. There, he made over 350 instruments and served as an instructor at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona until 1969. He won prizes in Prague (1st prize for a viola in 1954), Poznań (1st prize for a violin in 1957), and Liège (gold medal in 1960). He was also a co-founder of the Association of Czech Violin Makers.
Josef Vavra’s exceptional craftsmanship is clearly evident in this viola, particularly in the meticulously carved details of the scroll, the elegant f-holes, and the tasteful orange-red varnish, which beautifully highlights the grain of the high-quality tonewood. For the top, Vavra used strongly flamed maple, and for the back, fine and very even-grained spruce. Its 41 cm body length makes it an exceptionally playable viola with a powerful, radiantly clear, and brilliant timbre that allows for diverse musical interpretations. A unique opportunity to play a magnificent master instrument at a price point where one would normally only have a choice of simpler instruments.
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