Varnishs and Finishes

 

Varnishes
Antonio makes his varnishes from simple recipes, similarly used in days of old, made with linseed oil combined with colophony and mastic resins. Madder lakes and colored rosinates are added to the varnish to produce a variation or colors in the orange to red-brown spectrum.

Mulling a Madder Lake

Colored Rosinates

Finishes
Finishes are applied as pristine, shaded or antiqued. Here, Antonio is shown applying an antique finish to a copy of a Guarneri “Kreisler” model violin.