Beautiful French Violin labeled 1927 Charles J.B. Collin-Mezin 4/4 Beautiful French Violin labeled 1927 Charles J.B. Collin-Mezin 4/4

Beautiful French Violin labeled Charles J.B. Collin-Mezin 1927. 4/4 violin. It is currently fitted with a brand-new set of Thomastik-Infeld Vision Solo strings and has been professionally set up. It is ready to play immediately and requires nothing further.

Using an endoscope camera, I carefully inspected the interior and found no evidence of repairs such as cleats, patches, or other restoration work. Considering its age of nearly 100 years, the condition is truly remarkable. Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description and condition report. It is not brown in the back image that is just a shadow from the lighting off the arching of the back. 

Charles Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin was born at Mirecourt in 1841. He apprenticed under his father, C.L. Collin, and quickly became a skilled repairer and maker. In the early years of his career, he may have also worked at the Brussels workshop of Nicolas-François Vuillaume. In 1886 he moved to Paris, where he became one of the century’s most important luthiers. His violins, violas, and cellos were played by many prominent musicians of the time who compared his work to that of the old masters. Collin-Mezin trained his son as a luthier, who also became one of the best French builders of his time. The Collin-Mezin Workshop produced many instruments that were sought after particularly for their vibrancy and flexibility of sound. At the time of Collin-Mezin’s death, his son took over the workshop, eventually passing it on to his own son, Charles J.B. Collin-Mezin III. Collin-Mezin was an Officier de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts and won gold and silver medals at the Paris Exhibitions in 1878, 1889, and 1900.

This violin benefits from the tonal qualities that only decades of natural wood aging can provide. Its voice is warm, mature, and highly responsive, with excellent projection and richness throughout its range. The lower register is deep, complex, and refined, while the upper register is sweet, singing, and clear, maintaining excellent sustain even in higher positions.

Rich overtones add depth and color across all strings, with particularly strong and full-bodied G and D strings. The instrument responds equally well to powerful bowing and more nuanced playing, offering an even balance between warmth and clarity.

Overall, this violin combines projection, warmth, power, and individuality. Highly responsive, it delivers a balanced, rewarding playing experience with the tonal sophistication sought by advanced players and soloists. In my opinion, this is not a beginner's violin but an instrument best suited for an experienced or professional-level player.