Gerd Mallon Born in 1964, Mallon began his apprenticeship at the workshop of Meister Johannes Rabner at the age of 16. Afterwards, he trained in the production and repair techniques under various Meisters and master craftsmen throughout Germany, and in 1988, he himself obtained the title of Meister, a German national qualification. He established his workshop in Greiz, Thuringia, and has achieved outstanding results in domestic competitions, including winning prizes and special awards. Having started playing the violin from a young age, he continues to create works of uncompromisingly high quality, also from the perspective of a performer. He uses carefully selected materials that have been naturally dried sufficiently, and the varnish is also handmade, giving his instruments a warm and appealing charm. In addition to making instruments, he also adjusts and repairs old violins, and he says that the techniques cultivated through repairs are greatly beneficial in the creation of new instruments. The violin offered this time is from 2010. Although it has many scratches and stains, it does not affect the performance. A similar model from 2011 is priced at 600,000 yen at Quattro Gakki. The bow is by VLADO TILEV. Vlado Tilev graduated from the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany, majoring in cello, and before that, he graduated from the National Music School in Sofia and was also accepted as a student at the National Music Academy. Since 1995, he has been actively pursuing a professional career as an instrument maker, learning and practicing the art of the masters as an assistant to famous German masters. At the 24th VSA International Competition held in Anaheim in 2022, Vlado Tilev won a silver medal for the sound of his viola and a certificate (3rd place) for the sound of his violin. This bow is made by Vlado Tilev and is in the 500,000 to 1,000,000 yen class. It is expected to increase in value in the future. Both the bow and the violin are made by Meisters of the highest class in modern Germany. I believe this is an opportunity you won't find at this price, so please consider it.