A stunning violin made in an original model by Belgian maker Anton Somers for the Cuvée Darling Exhibition in 2022 in Cologne for Bay Fine Strings.
With a 35.5 cm length of back, this violin possesses a large, ample, and warm tone with great quality, focus, and clarity that both allows great resistance under the bow as well as a quick malleability in the shading of tone that is very pleasing to the ear. This is a violin that sounds first-rate today and will develop excellently over time.
About Anton Somers:
Born in 1986, in Borgerhout, Belgium, Anton was very passionate about woodworking ever since he was a young boy. At the age of 15, he made his first instrument and the next year he began studying at the violin-making school of Antwerp.
Directly after his studies in 2006, he worked in a local workshop in Brussels till 2011. Soon after, Anton decided to start his own business, opening his workshop in his hometown of Melsele where he is strongly connected to the local culture. Now producing instruments under his own name and with his own varnish, his career received a well-deserved boost.
In September 2016, Anton also accepted the position of faculty teacher in the violin-making school of Antwerp. After sharing his knowledge for 5 years, he stopped teaching at the end of 2021 to be able to fully focus on his career.
In December 2016, Anton received a Coup du Coeur in the violin-making competition “Violoncellenseine” in Paris which was dedicated to the cello. The cello was specially awarded for its tonality qualities by renowned cellist Damian Martinez Marco.
In 2020 Anton was personally selected by Andy Lim to serve as one of the five supervisors for the 3-year string sextet project, where 24 final-year students/recently graduated violin makers will make 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos. Anton has the honour and the challenge of supervising the making of 2 cellos.
In 2021, Anton made a string quartet containing completely CITES-certified whalebone purflings. This quartet is shown in the book published by Darling Publications "Anton Somers Vioolbouwer te Antwerpen ~ 22 instruments of the violin family 2012-2021," which was launched in Brussels, in June 2021.
Anton‘s instruments are appreciated by the most demanding musicians as also by investors who keep them in their private collections.