Italian violin makers worry about Chinese

CREMONA, Italy, March 5 (UPI) -- Italy's master violin makers said they are worried that the Chinese, who can turn out a violin, bow and case for $25 are now eyeing the more prestige market.

For the professional, a violin or cello made in northern Italy's Cremona is the ultimate status symbol. Prices can run as high as $27,000 for a violin, double for a cello.

"A violin from here is like a Ferrari," said one luthier -- a maker of stringed instruments -- told the Daily Telegraph.

As with other crafts in Europe, lutherie is coming under threat from inexpensively made Chinese products. Workshops have closed.

Xiqiao in southeast China has more than 40 companies turning out violins. The Taixing Fengling Musical Instrument Co., one of the largest, made 300,000 violins, violas, cellos and basses last year.

To compete, Cremona workshops must compete on quality, said master violin maker Stefano Conia.

"We already knew that we cannot compete on price," he said. "There are good violin makers in China, who we taught at the school in Cremona. But when they leave Italy, they lose a bit of the Italian taste. The varnish, the sound, the wood is all particular to this city."