Paul Bailly violin #998, Leeds, England, 1895 | Metzler Violins

resonant, spirited, soulful

About the Instrument
A violin with beautiful resonance across registers and a particularly lovely deep timbre. The honey-brown varnish brings out the lovely wide curling that extends from the center joint and the matching flames that run along the ribs, neck, and scroll. This violin is in excellent condition.

Interior label reads: “Twelve Medals — Gold, Silver, and Bronze / Paul Bailly, / Violin Maker, / Pupil of Jean Baptiste Vuillaume / Made specially in the atelier / of Harry Dykes / 28, Queen’s Arcado, Leeds” It then bears his signature alongside “Leeds 1895”
Length: 357 mm 
Upper Bouts: 166 mm
Middle: 112 mm
Lower Bouts: 208 mm

About the Maker
Paul Bailly (1844-1907) was born in the violin-making capital of Mirecourt, France, where he studied under Jules Gaillard. Bailly moved to Brussels and worked for Nicolas François Vuillaume before decamping to Paris to join the shop of the master luthier J.B. Vuillaume, Nicolas François’ brother. Bailly traveled often, working in Lille, Douai, and Reims. While in his thirties, he travelled to England where he worked for Harry Dykes at Leeds (where this instrument was made). Bailly then went to the United States before returning to his home country, settling in Paris in 1898. He went on to earn Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals across at Paris, Sydney, and Sydney for his instruments.

Over his career, Bailly produced about 2,000 instruments of expert quality and beautiful proportions. He is especially known for his exemplary and neat copies of the Italian masters, especially Maggini and Guarneri, drawing from his experience in J.B. Vuillaume’s workshop. Bailly's daughter, Jenny, inherited his workshop, becoming one of the first professional women violin makers of note.