A Fine American Violin by Frank Joseph Callier, 1921

Very pleased to present this fine American violin fashioned in 1921 by Frank Joseph Callier (1883-1971). Callier was born of French descent in St. Louis, MO, where he established his first workshop in 1900. He worked in San Antonio, TX from 1916 to 1928, after which he moved for a final time and ultimately settled in Hollywood, California.

In 1925, Callier won his first silver medal for violin making in Chicago, and his second, the following year in Philadelphia. Callier made 300 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, and some 1500 bows. His instruments are often branded “FJC” to the lower rib and internally, to the blocks. Most works were highly symmetric personal models, scientifically based upon harmonic ratios, with masterful varnish.

This hundred year old violin has been setup with the finest fittings of ebony accented pernambuco, a titanium tailgut and matching tuner, a French three-tree Despiau Superieur bridge, a uniquely carved button, and Evah Pirazzi strings with a Goldbrokat E. (The pernambuco chinrest was removed for the photos.) It’s voice is lush and sweet, with a lyrical quality and a power only matched by its clarity across the strings and registers. It is the kind of instrument you only want to put down to listen to someone else play instead and is competitively priced at just $12,000.