Geronimo Barnabetti Viola By JTL, France, circa 1885-1890. 406mm or 16”

There are but a few firms who one might claim have contributed to and shaped our industry as much as that of JTL, a powerhouse of craftsmanship operating from 1857-1968, which produced as many as 150,000 instruments, bows, and other products yearly at its height and employed over 1000 craftsmen. Their extensive catalogue and collections serviced every niche of the classical music industry, ranging from commercial instruments a child might start their musical journey on to definitive works still honored and sought after today by performers and collectors alike, as well as everything you could imagine in between.

This 406mm or 16” viola features many of the typically recognizable characteristics of early JTL production but in the most refined sense: Derazey inspired scroll, highly flamed one-piece back, Stradivari pattern, etc., highlighting a fully developed style for which these high-end trade instruments are still celebrated. It has a highly resonant voice which delivers immediacy and pronunciation, balancing depth and warmth with a crisp edge.