Auguste Sébastien Philippe Bernardel was one of the leading French violin maker of the 19th century, famed for his magnificent copies of Stradivari. His contemporaries were some of the finest French makers of the days, such as Charles François Gand and Pierre Silvestre. This violin features a particularly striking one piece maple back and deep wine red varnish.

This violin has a powerful, big and nuanced sound. Its warmth and easy response are striking.