MUSAFIA ITALIA S.r.l. (Ltd) VIOLIN AND VIOLA CASES

Theme and variations: Custom and specially-made MASTER SERIES model cases

Here’s a gallery of some of the many variations we’ve made on the Master Series model theme, a model which, like the Aeternum, has inspired quite a number of people to create their own version. While some of these cases were made to the precise requirements of people with very clear ideas, others were designed by Mr. Musafia as pure exercises of style, in order to try new aesthetic effects in his own quest towards artistic perfection. All of them represent an expression of creativity in instrument case making that goes beyond the usual boundaries.

Since Musafia cases are made one-by-one to the customer’s exact specifications, they can be personalized in an infinite number of ways, to make them perfect for nearly everyone, both technically and aesthetically. The cost of a custom-made case is not that much more than that of one of our stock models, but when it matches your needs and personality better, then it's priceless.

If you would like to order a Musafia case, or just enjoy looking at them, we hope you will find these images interesting!

Lyrico Sonnleitner Case, 2008.
This artist requested a particular color scheme with cross-cut burgundy velvet (changes color from burgundy to black depnding on the angle of view) and color-matched satin. Other touches include bow holders to accomodate shorter baroque bows and elimination of the burlwood trim usually found in the Master Series line.




Exercise of style, 2008.
A few special artistic touches make this dart-shaped Master Series Exclusive truly exclusive indeed. Instrument protection has perhas never been so compact, stylish, light weight and practical.




Kwang-hoon Kim Case, 2008.
This unique leather-lined Master Series Aureum was built on the compact Ultralight platform. Special touches include Alcantara-covered frame (instead of leatherette) and a full complement of safety options such as Tropicalization, frame reinforcement, waterproofing and PressurePorts.




Michael Boucher Case, 2008.
Finest Chinese silk brocade makes this custom-made Master Series violin case uniquely elegant and tasteful. Note the multi-tiered padding in the lid. This one-off creation is now in the U.S.A.




Ursula Eidenmueller Case, 2007.
This artist requested that we make a compact, dart-shaped Master Series Exclusive with the burlwood finish of the oblong cases, as well as some other special features. The end result is truly unique in it's elegance, but also in it's superlight weight and instrument protection.




Opus V Case, 2007.
The Opus series is a line of cases, each one completely different, which best represents Mr. Musafia's creativity. Here the design of the Master Series Aureum was further enhanced with the use of an incredibly soft leather suede lining. As with all Opus cases, it bears the special inscription: Ad universi terrarum orbis summi Δ gloriam, faciebat in Cremona anno MMVII. It is now owned by a distinguished Italian musician.




Exercise of style, 2007.
Mr. Musafia used his trademark Enigma multicolor velvet to make the padding of this Master Series case. Note also the multi-tiered padding in the lid, designed to provide a calibrated restraint to the instrument along the tailpiece. This case is now owned by a distinguished Canadian musician.




Exercise of style, 2007.
The padding of this Master Series is done in soft Pierre Cardin silk satin with a stylized animal-print-like design for a special effect. Made together with the case above, it also has the multi-tiered padding in the lid.




Igor Malinovsky Case, 2007.
Mr. Malinovsky presented us with a special challenge. He wanted a case with the interior completely lined with suede leather, six bow holders, room for two large violins and their shoulder rests. We were happy to accept this challenge and made the case pictured.




Tigran Hakhumyan Case, 2006.
This distinguished Swiss artist ordered our Master Series Exclusive with Enigma silk velvet in place of the usual Royale. Less visible characteristics are the Tropicalization PressurePorts, RadiationSafe, reinforced frame, and other special options.




The Strad Case, 2006.
In 2006 the prestigious English publication "The Strad" ordered a case to give to a lucky subscriber. We made a Master Series on our compact Ultralight frame with a satin and silk interior, which we subsequently replicated on special request for the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Mr. Rainer Kuechl.




Dr. Pilar Bradshaw Case, 2005.
We were particularly grateful to this loyal customer when she sent us this spectacular Chinese brocade. We made 4 cases (two violin, a viola case, and a double case) with it, and the end result was such that we received compliments from everywhere. Thank you, Pilar!




Olivares Case, 2005.
We don't offer our Enigma case in a double violin version, so this distinguished musician ordered a Master Series double violin case with many Enigma characteristics, including the exclusive velvet and the two-tone striped bottom padding. Options include Tropicalization.




Borman Case, 2005.
Once again, our Enigma silk velvet was requested to line the inside of a Master Series case. This case is now in the United States.




Exercise of style, 2004.
The surface of the main section of a Master Series violin case is composed of seven parts, making it quite a challenge indeed to correctly allign all the stripes in this well-known English pattern! This particular case also has a leather case cover.




Francesco Manara Case, 2004.
The concertmaster of the La Scala Orchestra in Milan commissioned this one-off Master Series Aureum case in a distinctive color combination.




Roberta di Camerino Case, 2003.
The famous Italian fashion designer, best known for her handbags, commissioned this Master Series in an all red-blue color combination, including a blue leather cover. The designer's monograms and logo grace the case inside and out.




Exercise of style, 2002.
Pierre Cardin silk satin was used to create this unique case, in which the pattern of the silk complements the design of the interior.




Rene Morel Limited Edition Case series, 2001.
Rene Morel Rare Violins of New York commissioned a mini-series of Master Series cases made with a patterned silk velvet that was the prelude to the Enigma velvet.




M. Eric Beaven Case, 2001.
Black silk velvet, black rope decoration, and black bow ribbons make Mr. Beaven's case unique. The discreet presence of brown in a few strategic places illuminates the interior almost magically.




Exercise of style, 1999.
We made this unique two-tone Master Series Exclusive case as a special prize for the Georges Enescu Violin Competition held in Bucarest.




1715 Stradivari Case, 1997
This was the first case we made for probably the most precious of all violins, the 1715 "ex-Joachim" Stradivari, part of Cremona's Civic Collection since 1961. A new case was subsequently made for this instrument in 2005, and this case is now owned by a private collector in the U.S.A.

These unique products of exacting Cremona workmanship and Italian style don't cost much more than normal production models and will offer a lifetime of unparalleled pleasure. We would be happy to discuss your ideas, offer suggestions, and supply a price estimate for your own Italian-made dream case. For further information please contact Mr. Musafia personally at info@musafia.com .

In order to ensure that a special-order case truly meets your expectations, these cases may only and EXCLUSIVELY be ordered directly from our Cremona workshop!

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	Lyrico Sonnleitner Case, 2008. This artist requested a particular color scheme with cross-cut burgundy velvet (changes color from burgundy to black depnding on the angle of view) and color-matched satin. Other touches include bow holders to accomodate shorter baroque bows and elimination of the burlwood trim usually found in the Master Series line.

	Exercise of style, 2008. A few special artistic touches make this dart-shaped Master Series Exclusive truly exclusive indeed. Instrument protection has perhas never been so compact, stylish, light weight and practical.

	Kwang-hoon Kim Case, 2008. This unique leather-lined Master Series Aureum was built on the compact Ultralight platform. Special touches include Alcantara-covered frame (instead of leatherette) and a full complement of safety options such as Tropicalization, frame reinforcement, waterproofing and PressurePorts.

	Michael Boucher Case, 2008. Finest Chinese silk brocade makes this custom-made Master Series violin case uniquely elegant and tasteful. Note the multi-tiered padding in the lid. This one-off creation is now in the U.S.A.

	Ursula Eidenmueller Case, 2007. This artist requested that we make a compact, dart-shaped Master Series Exclusive with the burlwood finish of the oblong cases, as well as some other special features. The end result is truly unique in it's elegance, but also in it's superlight weight and instrument protection.

	Opus V Case, 2007. The Opus series is a line of cases, each one completely different, which best represents Mr. Musafia's creativity. Here the design of the Master Series Aureum was further enhanced with the use of an incredibly soft leather suede lining. As with all Opus cases, it bears the special inscription: Ad universi terrarum orbis summi Δ gloriam, faciebat in Cremona anno MMVII. It is now owned by a distinguished Italian musician.

	Exercise of style, 2007. Mr. Musafia used his trademark Enigma multicolor velvet to make the padding of this Master Series case. Note also the multi-tiered padding in the lid, designed to provide a calibrated restraint to the instrument along the tailpiece. This case is now owned by a distinguished Canadian musician.

	Exercise of style, 2007. The padding of this Master Series is done in soft Pierre Cardin silk satin with a stylized animal-print-like design for a special effect. Made together with the case above, it also has the multi-tiered padding in the lid.

	Igor Malinovsky Case, 2007. Mr. Malinovsky presented us with a special challenge. He wanted a case with the interior completely lined with suede leather, six bow holders, room for two large violins and their shoulder rests. We were happy to accept this challenge and made the case pictured.

	Tigran Hakhumyan Case, 2006. This distinguished Swiss artist ordered our Master Series Exclusive with Enigma silk velvet in place of the usual Royale. Less visible characteristics are the Tropicalization PressurePorts, RadiationSafe, reinforced frame, and other special options.

	The Strad Case, 2006. In 2006 the prestigious English publication "The Strad" ordered a case to give to a lucky subscriber. We made a Master Series on our compact Ultralight frame with a satin and silk interior, which we subsequently replicated on special request for the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Mr. Rainer Kuechl.

	Dr. Pilar Bradshaw Case, 2005. We were particularly grateful to this loyal customer when she sent us this spectacular Chinese brocade. We made 4 cases (two violin, a viola case, and a double case) with it, and the end result was such that we received compliments from everywhere. Thank you, Pilar!

	Olivares Case, 2005. We don't offer our Enigma case in a double violin version, so this distinguished musician ordered a Master Series double violin case with many Enigma characteristics, including the exclusive velvet and the two-tone striped bottom padding. Options include Tropicalization.

	Borman Case, 2005. Once again, our Enigma silk velvet was requested to line the inside of a Master Series case. This case is now in the United States.

	Exercise of style, 2004. The surface of the main section of a Master Series violin case is composed of seven parts, making it quite a challenge indeed to correctly allign all the stripes in this well-known English pattern! This particular case also has a leather case cover.

	Francesco Manara Case, 2004. The concertmaster of the La Scala Orchestra in Milan commissioned this one-off Master Series Aureum case in a distinctive color combination.

	Roberta di Camerino Case, 2003. The famous Italian fashion designer, best known for her handbags, commissioned this Master Series in an all red-blue color combination, including a blue leather cover. The designer's monograms and logo grace the case inside and out.

	Exercise of style, 2002. Pierre Cardin silk satin was used to create this unique case, in which the pattern of the silk complements the design of the interior.

	Rene Morel Limited Edition Case series, 2001. Rene Morel Rare Violins of New York commissioned a mini-series of Master Series cases made with a patterned silk velvet that was the prelude to the Enigma velvet.

	M. Eric Beaven Case, 2001. Black silk velvet, black rope decoration, and black bow ribbons make Mr. Beaven's case unique. The discreet presence of brown in a few strategic places illuminates the interior almost magically.

	Exercise of style, 1999. We made this unique two-tone Master Series Exclusive case as a special prize for the Georges Enescu Violin Competition held in Bucarest.

	1715 Stradivari Case, 1997 This was the first case we made for probably the most precious of all violins, the 1715 "ex-Joachim" Stradivari, part of Cremona's Civic Collection since 1961. A new case was subsequently made for this instrument in 2005, and this case is now owned by a private collector in the U.S.A.