Asa White violin, Boston 1895

American luthier Asa Warren White (1826-1893) was born in Barre, Massachusetts. He worked for instrument dealer and publisher Henry H. Prentiss on Court Street in Boston until 1849 when he partnered with his brother, Ira J. White-who would also become a prominent violin maker. During his long and prolific career as a violin maker, Asa made over 400 violins, numerous violas and cellos, violas da gamba, and violas d'amore. He received a gold medal and several silver medals for violins entered into the Massachusetts Mechanics Fairs in the 1870s and 1880s, where judges reportedly confused his violins with those of old Cremonese instruments. In 1888, White moved to Chicago making a number of violins bearing labels with that city's name. He then returned to Boston, where he worked until the end of his life.