Cornelis Weel

Cornelis Weel cannot be considered a typical instrument maker. After having been known for years as a linen merchant and shopkeeper, his name suddenly appears as a musical instrument repairer and later as a violin maker. No records of violin-making training have been found, so it is assumed that he must have been self-taught in this field. What makes his work interesting is that he did not follow the lead of his Dutch colleagues, who primarily emulated the French style. His instruments can instead be traced back to Italian influences, to which he clearly added his own personal touch. It is not so much the technical craftsmanship as his distinctive personal style that makes his instruments particularly interesting. After going bankrupt in 1868, he returned to his former profession as a merchant.