Project Polonia – from the tomography of a Stradivarius to a concert
Image from the preliminary research of Project Polonia. 3D scan of a contemporary violin.
The Wieniawski Society enthusiastically supports and promotes valuable cultural projects such as Project Polonia – an extraordinary undertaking that combines science, art, and the craft of violin making. The project was conceived by Mateusz Majkowski, a student at the Department of Artistic Violin Making at the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań.
The goal of the project is to thoroughly examine and create full documentation of a masterpiece of violin making – Polonia (1685), the only instrument in Poland built by Antonio Stradivari. Since 2018, it has been played by Janusz Wawrowski, one of Poland’s leading virtuosos. Thanks to his generosity, the violin was made available for research.
In early September, in collaboration with a team from the Kielce University of Technology, a non-invasive, precise CT scan of the instrument’s body and scroll was carried out, along with thickness measurements of the plates. In addition, a 3D scan was performed, making it possible to reconstruct the external dimensions and a complete color model of the violin.
The next stage will involve the preparation of educational materials, followed by the construction of a new instrument modeled on the Polish Stradivarius. The project will culminate in a concert – a unique duet of the original 1685 instrument and a modern copy to be completed later this year.
“Polonia (1685) is the only original instrument by Antonio Stradivari located in Poland. It is a priceless work of violin-making art which, thanks to the unique research and artistic initiative – Project Polonia – has, for the first time in history, been subjected to such a detailed analysis using modern technologies.
The project was made possible thanks to a grant received through a tripartite collaboration with the Kielce Technology Park. A key role in the entire process was played by Ms. Anna Depczyńska, who oversaw essential formal and organizational matters. Undeniably, the central figure of the research stage was Professor Wojciech Depczyński, with whom I repeatedly consulted on technical details and the course of the study.
Thanks to the generosity of Janusz Wawrowski, who lent the instrument for research, it was possible to carry out a unique analysis at the Kielce University of Technology. The violin was examined in the laboratory using one of the world’s most precise instruments of its kind – the NIKON M2 LES CT scanner, offering a measurement resolution on the order of just a few micrometers (approx. 0.01 mm).
Based on the collected data, a complete set of templates, forms, and models will be created, necessary for building an instrument inspired by the Polonia Stradivarius. This work has both scientific and practical dimensions – the aim is to produce a faithful technical record that will serve as an educational tool for future generations of violin makers.
Using the prepared documentation, I will undertake the construction of a new instrument, consulting with the custodian of the original, Janusz Wawrowski, on important issues related to the use of the violin, so that the instrument created within the project meets the highest artistic and practical standards. The project will also serve as the culmination of my diploma work at the Academy of Music in Poznań.
An extremely important element of the project is the support of the largest and most prestigious companies in the field. Pirastro provided flagship sets of strings, Despiau Chevalets supplied top-quality bridges, and OldWood Colours & Varnishes made available unique varnish formulas as well as all essential components for finishing the instrument.
Ultimately, a concert is planned in which two instruments will be heard side by side – the original 1685 Stradivarius and the contemporary violin I will build based on the research results. This will be not only an artistic but also a symbolic event – a meeting of history and modernity, in which art and science merge into a single narrative.
Project Polonia is a unique undertaking whose aim is to preserve violin-making heritage in a modern form, while at the same time paying tribute to the genius of Antonio Stradivari,” emphasizes Mateusz Majkowski.
[15.09.2025]
Contact regarding the project: Mateusz Majkowski - office[at]majkowski.eu
