Martin Chalifour
Principal Concertmaster of Los Angeles Philharmonic

Highly endorsed by Los Angeles Philharmonic Concertmaster Martin Chalifour, Marquis Violins has one of the most complete selections in the country. Marquis has sold, purchased, and restored some of the finest instruments and bows in the world. These include violins, violas, and cellos by Antonio Stradivari, J.B. Guadagnini, Domenico Montagnana, the Gagliano family, the Guarneri family, J.B. Vuillaume, and bows by Lupot, Eury, Victor and Jules Fetique, W.E. Hill and Sons, Maline, Franscois Nicholas Voirin, and Eugene Sartory.  Marquis Violins also specializes in bow rehairs, as owner Barry Hou personally travels to Beijing to acquire the highest quality bow hair brought over the Great Wall of China from Mongolia. Marquis is able to customize bow and hair tension and distribution to each player’s specifications. Mr. Hou also frequently travels to auctions and conventions around the world, including Boston, New York, and London. He also keeps close ties with colleagues in Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Marquis Violins is confident that its global associations enhance services to each and every customer.

 
Rembert Wurlitzer (1904~1963)
"With best wishes to Barry Hou from Marianne Wurlitzer, August 1994"

In addition, Marquis Violins is the proud owner of the legendary archive from Rembert Wurlitzer Co.'s former Los Angeles branch. Founded in Europe in 1856, the Wurlitzer Co. was a world-famous musical instrument company known for its many ateliers in the United States. Under the supervision of manager Ferris Brown, Wurlitzer Co. Los Angeles was the most prominent violin shop on the West Coast from the 1920's to 1940's. After the passing of Mr. Brown, the Wurlitzer L.A. archive came into the hands of his daughter, Barbara. In recognition of the talents and needs at Marquis Violins, Barbara Brown bestowed the archive to Barry Hou in 1995, with the expressed wishes that the archive be utilized and displayed.

With the addition of the Rembert Wurlitzer collection, Marquis Violins owns the most extensive violin-related archive on the West Coast. Its library contains complete issues of The Strad, Violins, and Violinists magazines, signed photographs of great artists such as Heifetz, Piatigorsky, and Menuhin, as well as detailed documents and certificates of rare instruments and bows.