Peter White – Antonio Stradivari “Messiah” 1716 Violin

Peter White Stradivari Messiah Violin

Peter White’s  Antonio Stradivari “Messiah” 1716 Violin is a copy of the “Messiah” which is permanently exhibited at the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford University, England. It is universally considered one of Stradivari’s finest violins, the greatest example of his magnificent workmanship.

Peter’s violin is one of the most recent of his 260 instruments, made during a career spanning 54 years. It is made from the best, select European spruce and maple, African ebony and internal blocks of willow.  The violin is made following Hill and Sons English diagram of the “Messiah,” a complete blueprint of every feature of the original.  Therefore, Peter has followed the arching, the external shape, the corner dimensions and the graduations, or thickness of the top and back, used in the original, with slight, modern variations to suit the contemporary classical musician.

Peter White has won many gold medals in American contests for his violins, violas, and cellos. He also won a gold medal for his detailed copy of Andrea Amati’s 1560 violin and viola. This award was given to him at the first International Competition for Antiqued Instruments in 2010, Cremona, Italy. Most of White’s education in violin making was done under Jan Pawlikowski in Krakow Poland, and through short internships in other European violin shops.