Two violins are currently available by Mr. Koos. The first, made in 2001, is 356 mm., has a two-piece back with medium to large flaming, and a reddish-brown varnish. Its price is $2,900/E2,150.

The second violin, also made in 2001, is 357 mm., has a two-piece back with medium flaming, and a golden-brown varnish over a yellow ground. Its price is $4,500/E3,335.

Mr. Koos makes violas upon request. Please inquire.

Mr. Koos is a superb maker of Baroque and Medieval stringed instruments. Please inquire.

Viktor Koos was born in Hungary in 1976 and studied repair, restoration and construction of violin-family instruments in Budapest at the Franz Liszt Music Academy's School for Violin Makers. He frequently goes to Cremona to study and confer with many esteemed luthiers there.

Mr. Koos is currently doing postgraduate work at West Dean College in southern England where he's focusing on stringed instrument making from the Renaissance and Baroque. Rececently he began work on a copy of a bass viol (seven strings) from 1687 by Nicolas Betrand. He was honored by being the first person ever to be admitted into the second year of West Dean's rigorous three-year program because of his superior skills as a luthier.

With the exception of ebony, Mr. Koos prefers to use only European woods such as maple obtained in Bosnia, and spruce from the Transylvanian region of Romania. He uses animal glues for all jointing, while the creation of his instruments is entirely traditional -- no power tools are used. The beautiful environment where he works helps him to relax and derive the energy necessary for his accurate, precise and exceptionally clean work.

Being sure that the beauty of the old great instruments is a consequence of acoustical necessities, he uses outlines, archings and varnish with specific acoustical functions and achieves surprising optical and sonic results.

Mr. Koos makes both modern and baroque instruments for the serious and discerning player.