George Gemünder's Progress in Violin Making / With Interesting Facts Concerning the Art and Its Critics in General

The author recounts his progression from early family training through study and work in several European cities and a pivotal Parisian apprenticeship, highlighting the technical lessons and workplace tensions that shaped his craft. He explains instrument construction and repair methods, adaptations of Italian models, and practical problem-solving learned on the bench. Anecdotes about restoring notable instruments and encounters with patrons and exhibitions illustrate his views on artistic judgment and criticism. The account combines hands-on instruction, personal memoir, and reflections on the practice and reception of violin making.