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Who is Paul Gentile? Canadian artist Paul Gentile is a true renaissance artisan who hand-crafts historically accurate exact miniature replicas of classical musical instruments in 1/7th their original size. Bio [top] What is the Gentile Collection? More than seven years in the making, Canadian artist Paul Gentile's magnificent miniatures are exact replicas of legendary musical instruments -- right down to the markings on the finishes -- in 1/7th the original size. Only two of each were created and only one of each is available for sale. Testimonials [top] What instruments are included in the collection? The Gentile Collection consists of remarkably detailed miniatures of the 1679 Heller Stradivarius Violin, the 1957 Selmer Mrk VI Alto Saxophone, the 1688 Antonio Stradivari Guitar, the 1701 Antonio Stradivari "Servais" Cello, the 1785 Vincenzo Panormo Double Bass and the 1931 Eugene Sartori Double Bass Bow (which has been used to play the Panormo double bass). [top] Are the individual instruments for sale? Yes. For more information please click here to be linked to the contact form. [top] How can I get more information about buying the collection? If you would like additional information about the Gentile Collection, please click here to be linked to the contact form. [top] What is the scale of the miniatures?  The instruments in the Gentile Collection
are painstakingly replicated in 1/7th their
original size. The collection took more than
seven years to complete. Gentile often works
through a jeweler's loop because the pieces
he uses are sometimes the thickness of a
human hair.You can also view relative-scale photos of the entire collection. This is Paul Gentile's miniature 1679 Hellier Stradivarius Violin. [top] What are the materials used in the replicas? For each of the instruments in the collection, Gentile took great pains to use the exact materials of the originals, down to the rare woods, screws, rods and tubes. He also replicated the original techniques used to make the legendary originals. [top] How true to the originals are the replicas? Gentile has endeavored to be absolutely faithful to each of the original instruments in the collection, and to the materials with which each are made. With unrivaled exactitude, he has worked with fibers the thickness of a human hair, and screws barely visible to the naked eye. [top] How many of each miniature instrument were made? Only two of each instrument in the Gentile collection have been made, and only one of each is available for sale. [top] How long did the collection take to make? It took artist Paul Gentile more than seven years to complete his meticulous work on his miniature instrument collection. For example, it took Gentile 2 ½ months to cut fine parallel lines and chisel out the material between them, in the Hellier violion's Baroque inlay, which is about the thickness of a human hair -- not to mention the 476 diamond-shaped ivory pieces, about the size of grains of salt, inlaid in the ornamental border known as purfling. With mathematical precision, this compelling design begins and ends with a single dot. [top] Why musical instruments? "Music is a language that has no boundaries. Unfortunately, the original instruments from which these have been replicated have been taken for granted. This is my way of expressing my impression of them - their majesty, elegance, and beauty of what my eyes have seen. And I am honoring and paying tribute to the original masters." [top] Can the Gentile instruments be played? The Selmer saxophone can be played and the reed does actually vibrate and emit a sound, however the original intent of this project was to capture the mechanics of the action of the original instrument. What ultimately creates the sound is the vibration of the reed from the musician's mouth. It does not articulate perfectly due to its size. Likewise with the rest of the collection. [top] How did Gentile select the instruments he miniaturized? He based his selections on accessibility to the originals. He also chose those created by the best and the most well-known master instrument makers. [top] Why 1/7th the size of the originals? Gentile tried 1/6th and 1/8th but he felt that 1/7th provided perfect overall visual balance. [top] Do your eyes get tired? "Yes, they do. I also suffer greatly with constant pain in my neck and shoulders. My right hand often goes in to spasms. This work is more physically and mentally demanding than one would ever imagine." [top] Do you make your own tools? "Yes, for some of the finer cutting or more delicate details." [top] |
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| Home | About the Artist | Violin | Alto Saxophone | Guitar | Cello Double Bass | Double Bass Bow | FAQ | Press Room | Testimonials | Contact |
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