Stradivarius

What a lovely workshop, wouldn't you say? Apparently, the tools on display here, at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, are originals and would still be used today to make violins. And this scene was the beginning of an exciting exhibition entitled 'Stradivarius' I visited last week.

Displayed in glass cabinets in one large room, we could admire some 21 instruments; violins, cellos, a mandolin in its original case and a guitar with twelve strings...

All these of such craftsmanship. The attention to detail, the perfection. Each instrument seems to have its own life, its own character...

...This mandolin is so small (the way mandolin should be I guess), so cute.

I have noticed that quite a lot of violins on display had the prefix 'the most...'. The most important, the most valuable, the smallest, the earliest surviving one, the most ...

Returning to the mandolin and its case, the work on the leather and decoration on the outside and the fine lining inside made me stop and gasp.

The Messiah (on the right) is known to stay with Stradivari until his death and is one of the finest violins produced (as many of Strads are, of course).

Standing by the cabinet, I had to admire the detail, the perfection of the shape, the cut precision of the wooden pegs,...

But what is it about Stradivari violins that produces such perfect sound. Is it the spruce that has aged so beautifully by now, is it the varnish he used, the shape?

In the 17th century, when Europe undergone a mini-Ice Age, the trees grew extra dense in trunks; would this be the secret? Or was it the preservatives agains insects that left something in the wood? Did Stradivari use some special varnish? So many questions, so many theories. But who knows...

...This guitar with twelve strings by Antonio Stradivari made me wonder about its sound.

Any 12-string guitar produces amazingly rich sound so to listen one made by Stradivari must be incredible. Also, notice that the shape is slimmer than guitars we are used to nowadays. This could also create sound that is a delight to listen, I wonder.

Being full of excitement and thoughts after the exhibition, I ended getting lost in the shop (which is so cleverly located at the end of any exhibition), again. Full of merchandise varying from full exhibition catalogue to a fridge magnet with Antonio Stradivari signature, there was something for everybody.


And of course for me as well. Somebody told me once that I seem to like quirky objects. It must be truth since after seeing this I could not resist and bought what I call now a violin cup.

This image was originally intended to be at the beginning of this post. However, I am ending at what was also the end of the exhibition for me. But if you have nothing else to do, hop on a bus or a train and make your way to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to see this exhibition (you have untill 11 August so hurry). And do not forget to make a great day out of it as well. You can spend the rest of the day browsing through the streets of Oxford, sit by the river and have a wonderful day out. K-)

Etruscan workshop in The New Craftsmen

In my last post 'Something to write about...' I wrote about The New Craftsmen space where, on top of everything else, various workshops are taking place. Few weeks later I actually returned back and visited 'Etruscan Leather Jewellery' workshop run by Katherine Pogson. Katherine focuses on leather accessories ranging from jewellery to stylish bags, all being hand-made. Above is a display of her delicate and light-weight jewellery we all admired.

Whether looking at necklaces or bracelets, the two-coloured design is both eye-catching and striking.

I could not resist and tried one necklace on. Ever so light, its twisted appeal gives it life on its own. Such an organic form is taken from floral designs found in plants as well as floral architecture of the past.

Katherine was kind enough to let us into her creative secrets...

Showing us how to apply golden leaf to a sheet of leather, revealing how much time this process takes, letting us touch and hold her tools and describing her hand-made process that creates this organic beauty is so inspiring. The dedication, the belief.

Even though it might be time consuming, the idea behind is so simple making it another example of something simple being so effective.

To some these two pictures might look rather messy whereas others might find it heaven for opportunity.

Either way, the warmth and injection of energy that spread through my body is something I will want to remember for a long time.

What is worth mentioning is the workshops Katherine runs throughout the year. Please, check her website for further details. I am sure these courses will feel more than rewarding upon their completion. K-)