In a historic global first, next January, a cello will be crafted from huanghuali wood. Huanghuali—Chinese rosewood—is among the most prized materials worldwide, with unprocessed high-quality wood selling for thousands of dollars per kilogram.
A major collaboration between leading global violin dealer J & A Beare (“the acknowledged world authority on stringed instruments” – The Guardian) and acclaimed Hong Kong craft and heritage museum, Liang Yi Museum (“one of the world's foremost assemblies of Ming and Qing huanghuali and zitan furniture” – Financial Times), their landmark joint exhibition in Hong Kong will centre the final stages of the cello's construction, live at the workbench. The unique instrument is being crafted by world renowned Luthier and Beare's Head of Scientific Research and Conservation, Robert Brewer Young, whose body of work includes instruments made for celebrated artists, among them Truls Mork and Steven Isserlis.
The synthesis of Eastern and Western craft tradition in the making of a cello from huanghuali will be further explored in an exhibition, running from the 16th to 28th January 2026. It will feature precious huanghuali objects from the Liang Yi Museum's collection juxtaposed with historic violins illuminating Italian craftsmanship, including rare examples by Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù.
Alongside will feature workshops on “The Five Senses of the Violinmaker”, exploring the physical processes and craftsmanship behind the world of the huanghuali cello. The workshops invite audiences to approach the exhibition in immersive ways, inspired by the Liang Yi Museum's overarching philosophy of tactile interaction with their objects.
