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©Christian Bayon
©Christian Bayon
©All rights reserved
©Christian Bayon
©Christian Bayon

Christian Bayon

  • Luthier
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • Master Artisan
Christian Bayon Luthier
Contact
Portuguese, English, French, Italian
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+351 964632117
©All rights reserved

For the love of music

  • • Christian spent years restoring fine stringed instruments
  • • He makes bespoke violins and cellos for international soloists
  • • He loves to hear his instruments played in prestigious concert halls

Christian Bayon became a successful luthier quite by chance. When only 16, he joined the French navy as a technician for fighter planes dreaming of seeing the world. The reality was different and to fight boredom he built a violin using a manual. He ended up making 10 and earning a bursary known as the Bourse de la Vocation in France. With two master luthiers he learnt the art of restoring fine instruments made by the likes of Stradivarius and Guarneri. Years later, inspired by this rich experience, he chose to devote himself to making bespoke instruments for the best international soloists. Based in Lisbon since 1989, they find him and are willing to wait three to four years for their instrument. “I don’t make one kind of violin, viola or cello, I adapt them to the specific need of the musician.”

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©Christian Bayon
  • ©Christian Bayon
  • ©Christian Bayon
Photo: ©Christian Bayon
Classical violin

This violin, handmade from spruce, ebony and rosewood, is fitted with gut strings and is perfect to play music from the 1780-1800 period. Christian Bayon, aided by his assistant, used wood essences that have dried for over 20 years as well as natural vanish and glues to make this violin following centennial violin making techniques.

Photo: ©Christian Bayon
Violin

Christian Bayon and his assistant used spruce, ebony and rosewood to create this violin inspired by Guarnerius Del Gésù. The handmade violin was assembled using natural varnishes and glues, using wood that has been seasoned for over twenty years. Christian Bayon uses traditional violin making techniques, similar to those used centuries ago to build the violin.

Photo: ©Christian Bayon
Violin

This violin, a personal model, was built using flamed maple, spruce, ebony and boxwood. The violin, handmade by Christian Bayon and his assistant, was assembled using natural glues and varnishes following ancestral techniques similar to those used 500 years ago.

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