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108:

A VIOLIN BY TETSUO MATSUDA, CHICAGO, 1988

108: A VIOLIN BY TETSUO MATSUDA, CHICAGO, 1988


Labeled, "Tetsuo Matsuda fecit Chicago 1988."

Inscribed to the inside back, "Tetsuo da Hadachi Chicago 1988." Inscribed to the upper block, "#541." 

LOB: 35.2 cm

Made in 1988, this violin comes from Tetsuo Matsuda's mature Chicago period, just four years after he received the Violin Society of America's Gold Medal in 1984 — recognition that placed him among the most respected contemporary makers in the United States.

Born in Akita, Japan, in 1945, he first discovered a fascination with instrument making while working in a Tokyo guitar shop. That interest led him to Cremona in 1977, where he trained in the classical Italian tradition and went on to win prizes at both the Wieniawski and Cremona competitions, before eventually settling in Chicago and establishing his own workshop.

This particular violin carries an extraordinary provenance: commissioned directly by the celebrated violinist and conductor Jōji Hattori, while he still owned its inspiration — the Guarneri del Gesù, "Lafont-Siskovsky" of 1733, of which this violin is known to be Matsuda's only bench copy. Adding to it's well documented past, this Lot is accompanied by two certificates and an original letter from the maker.
  • Proforma Certificate: Jason Price, New York, NY (Sep 16 2026)
  • Dendrochronology report: Sondre Lie, Oslo (Sep 3 2026) Dates the latest ring of the bass and treble side as 1963 and 1965, respectively.
  • Letter: Tetsuo Matsuda, Barrington, IL (Jul 11 1995)
  • Certificate: Andreas Woywod, London (Apr 6 1995)
  • Certificate: Bein & Fushi, Inc, Chicago, IL (Mar 16 1988)

View Documents


Ending on Oct 1 at
4:19 PM Berlin / 3:19 PM London / 10:19 AM New York

Estimate: €15,000–22,000

Bidding opens Sep 22, 2026 11:00 AM CEST

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Ω - TI - non-antique - additional 19% import VAT charged on the hammer
‡ - TI - antique - additional 19% import VAT charged on the hammer
† - Normal VAT rules - 19% VAT charged on hammer and premium
No Symbol - Margin Scheme - 19% VAT-in-lieu charged on the premium (except when exported within 3 months)

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