John Erwin Violin 1992 - Kochanski

WWII, Korean War US Navy Veteran, Architect, Painter, and a contemporary violin maker. John Erwin (1920-2009) was a very accomplished man.  As a painter, Mr. Erwin had a painting in an exhibition commemorating the Texas Centennial which grouped him with early Texas artists. Additionally, his paintings from World War II were selected by the National Trust for Historical Preservation as an Official Project of “Save American Treasures”. Those paintings are held in the Panhandle Plains Museum in Canyon, Texas. 

Based in Dallas, Texas, Mr. Erwin produced several instruments.  Information about his violin making may be found in violin reference books such as Henley's Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers.  In 2001, an Erwin violin was given to now world-renown Polish violinist Mariusz Patyraas as one of the prizes of the Niccolo Paganini International Violin Competiton.  At the time of his death, his elder son, Bruce Erwin, his daughter, and the concertmaster of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra played on Erwin violins.  We are fortunate to have two of his violins, #106 and #107, available in our shop.  Both are a fine example of his work.

This violin, #107, is a copy of the Guarneri 1741 pattern. Per Mr. Erwin's notes, the back of this violin and the back of #106 were made from the same Canadian maple tree. The top of #107 is Engleman spruce which he purchased locally in Dallas.

The tone is pure, rich, and warm and projects clearly, to the back of the room. It is open and clear with just a drizzle of darkness to give it warmth and substance.  Brown varnish, medium grain, two-piece nicely flamed back.

#3932

All boxwood fittings