violin
William, Alfred, and Charles Voller “Brothers”
built in London in ± 1900
A violin built by the Voller Brothers in London in the late 19th century. It bears a label reading “Gaetano Gagliani in Napoli fec. 1763.”
History of this instrument
The Musical Instrument Fund was able to purchase this violin in 1997 from a Dutch dealer, who was selling it on consignment for a private individual from Hilversum. Since the Voller brothers focused on copying instruments by old masters as accurately as possible, it was not uncommon for instruments they made to be sold as authentic old Italian masterpieces for correspondingly high prices. Since 1997, the Fund has loaned the violin successively to Renate van Riel, Sophia Torrenga, Raphaella Engelsberg, and, since 2011, to Ian de Jong.
About the builder William, Alfred, and Charles Voller “Brothers”
Well into the twentieth century, “The Voller Brothers” were associated more with deliberate deception, forgeries, or other unethical dealings than with honest, conscientious violin makers. The recognition that they were exceptionally...
