A friend of mine brought in one of his older violins the other day. He uses a variation of my varnish that’s a bit more complex. His violin, which is around 15 years old and well-used, has acquired a really nice texture to it. It’s the most extreme on the ribs under the tailpiece, where it’s exposed to constant heat and moisture from the player’s neck:
On the back, where the player’s shoulder touches, it’s less extreme, and still very attractive:
I’ve never seen my own recipe do anything like this, so I assume the changes he’s made to it are responsible. As modern natural textures go (as opposed to the synthetic ones makers put on intentionally), it’s maybe one of the most attractive variations I’ve seen.