These nascent violins will sit in the outdoors for about eight months to season the wood and give it a darker look without using stain.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
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Hiroshi Iizuka's interest in making musical instruments started with the guitar. Then he heard a violin for the first time. Near 70 now, he's not thinking retirement. “I can’t...because this is wonderful."
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
< 3 of 9 >
The large scroll before varnish is applied.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
< 4 of 9 >
Hiroshi Iizuka's workbench is a bustle of custom finger planes and chisels.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
< 5 of 9 >
Iizuka made his own set of custom finger planes.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
< 6 of 9 >
Iizuka's expansive set of Swiss and Japanese chisels.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
< 7 of 9 >
Yosuke Osawa, who is Hiroshi Iizuka's nephew and longtime apprentice, works on an instrument in the Delaware County workshop.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
< 8 of 9 >
Iizuka explained the unexpected inspiration for the large scroll at the top of his violins: The ram horns he noticed while watching a football game.
