Philip Bridle- Driftwood Strings

The famous Joachim-Ma Stradivarius of 1714 is to be auctioned in February. The estimated price could be as high as $18 million!

Virtuoso Hilary Hahn has been appointed Visiting Professor at London's Royal Academy of Music. Congratulations.

Rescued after 50 years in an attic in a box, completely in pieces. Possibly Thomas Kennedy c 1850.

As the Titanic sank, she weighed 52,310 tons of steel, and yet this fragile little object made of wood survived, the violin famously played by band leader Wallace Hartley as the Titanic slipped below the ocean waves.

Love to have a day in this room playing some of these violins! Anyone for the piano and cello? 😀

A very old baroque cello of unknown origin, but it was great to hear it making music again.

Sometimes the makers of violins of yesteryear took a break from carving the traditional style of head, the classic rolled spiral known as the volute, and produced something like those pictured. Maybe the feeling that players were being watched stopped this style from being very popular!

Busy times !

Boxed up in someone's attic for over 50 years, this poor violin is now a bit of a jigsaw puzzle ! Wonder what it will sound like when it is eventually restored to working order ?

Ok..looks like a few small items need to find a new home before the workshop/garage refit ! The old MGB has carried a double bass before....a reminder of student days. Wife showing amazing patience with the menagerie of instruments now lurking in every corner of the house!

Bought this violin from a maker in Beijing and waiting for delivery. After hearing increasingly positive reviews about the new generation of Chinese instruments... time to try one myself ! Will it be a good player, or an attractive wall ornament? Time will tell...........