If varnish were not transparent, all artistic workmanship would be unnecessary and useless as it could not be seen, and all the beauties in the grain of the wood would be effectually disguised.
A good varnish has a distinct effect in the improvement of the tone of a violin.
That mellowness and richness which is always associated with violins of very old manufacture largely depends on the excellence of its varnish.
This brings us back to the knowledge possessed by the old makers, which enabled them to produce such wonderful varnish and how it came to be lost.
Much controversy and discussion has been centred on this subject, which has many curious and interesting features.
It was probably not a secret at one time, but each maker in his endeavour to surpass his rival tried to improve upon what we recognise now to have been as near perfection as possible, so that instead of attaining the ideal they gradually fell away from their high standard until the original process has been buried in the innumerable and vain
