This classic guide offers an accessible initiation into the mysteries of violin-making. Charming in its style and cultivated in its research, it covers every detail of the process, from wood selection to varnish. A fascinating history of the instrument precedes discussions of materials and construction techniques, and more than 200 diagrams, engravings, and photographs complement the text. The first book to combine the history, theory, and practice of violin-making, this comprehensive resource has enlightened and informed generations of performers and players alike. Unabridged republication of the classic 1885 edition.