Bein & Fushi
Bein & Fushi is a Chicago-based dealer, expert, and restorer of rare antique and modern violins, violas, cellos, and bows from legendary Italian and French master makers. Founded in 1976, the firm sells instruments, issues authentication certificates, and provides appraisals to professional soloists, collectors, and rising artists worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bein & Fushi does
Bein & Fushi is a Chicago-based dealer, expert, and restorer of rare antique and modern violins, violas, cellos, and bows, founded in 1976 by Robert Bein and Geoffrey Fushi and now led by owner and Executive Director Gabriel Ben-Dashan. The firm sources and sells instruments from legendary Italian master makers — Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù, Guarneri 'filius Andreae', Bergonzi, Guadagnini, Storioni, Postiglione, Gasparo da Salò — alongside premier French bow makers such as Sartory, Voirin, and Henry, and provides expert repair and restoration services from a single showroom in the historic Fine Arts Building at 410 South Michigan Avenue.
The business generates revenue through one-time instrument and bow sales, Bein & Fushi Certificates of Authenticity priced at 5% of fair market value, written insurance appraisals ($250–$450 per instrument), a digital magazine subscription published for over 40 years, and auxiliary income from books and recorded media. Distribution is exclusively direct from the Chicago showroom with personalized expert sales support, and the affiliated Stradivari Society (founded 1985) operates a patron-funded instrument-loan program that connects emerging artists with the world's finest instruments. Customers are professional concert soloists (Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and others), private collectors, music students, and rising international stars; the firm maintains an active international presence through Society recital tours and master classes in China, Korea, France, Russia, Japan, and the UK.
Bein & Fushi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bein & Fushi
- Legal name
- Bein & Fushi, Inc.
- Website
- https://beinfushi.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bein & Fushi is a Chicago-based dealer, expert, and restorer of rare antique and modern violins, violas, cellos, and bows from legendary Italian and French master makers. Founded in 1976, the firm sells instruments, issues authentication certificates, and provides appraisals to professional soloists, collectors, and rising artists worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bein & Fushi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fine Stringed Instruments & Bows
- NAICS
- Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)
- SIC
- Musical Instruments (3931)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Used & Vintage Musical Instruments Retail (CRALAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services (CRALAEAF)
Keywords
Where Bein & Fushi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bein & Fushi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Instrument and Bow Sales: One-time sales of rare antique and modern violins, violas, cellos and bows from prestigious makers including Stradivari, Guarneri, and French bow makers.
- Certificates of Authenticity: Bein & Fushi Certificates Of Authenticity are the most trusted and sought-after in the world. Fee is 5% of fair market value of the instrument or bow.
- Appraisal Services: Written appraisals for insurance purposes. Valued up to $10,000: $250; Over $10,000: $450. Additional instruments $95-135. Reissued insurance appraisals for $95.
- Bein & Fushi Magazine: Digital magazine subscription published for over 40 years, featuring stunning photographs and articles on rare instruments. The company transitioned to digital format in 2017 to save over four tons of paper per year.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Certificates of Authenticity - 5% of fair market value |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Written Appraisal - $250-$450 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Bein & Fushi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bein & Fushi is the world's premier dealer and restorer of rare, antique, and modern violins, violas, cellos, and bows from legendary Italian and French makers. The company sells instruments directly from its Chicago showroom, provides Bein & Fushi Certificates of Authenticity, written insurance appraisals, and world-class repair and restoration services, and operates the Stradivari Society artist-loan program.
Product overview
Bein & Fushi is the world's premier dealer and restorer of fine stringed instruments and bows, operating since 1976. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio including rare antique violins, violas, and cellos from legendary Italian makers (Stradivari, Guarneri, Bergonzi), premium bows from French makers (Sartory, Voirin, Henry), along with authentication certificates, expert appraisals, world-class repair/restoration, and their own published magazine. The Stradivari Society, founded in 1985, provides instrument loans to promising young artists. Their product ecosystem spans physical instruments and bows, authentication services, publications, and artist development programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Stradivari Society: A society founded in 1985 dedicated to identifying promising artists and uniting them with the finest instruments, helping launch careers of many of today's brilliant artists
Products and services
- Fine Stringed Instruments Premium dealer offering of rare, antique, and modern violins, violas, and cellos from legendary Italian master makers including Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù, Bergonzi, Guadagnini, Storioni, and others. Sold directly to professional soloists, collectors, and orchestras worldwide.
- Fine Bows Premium dealer offering of rare, antique, and modern bows for violins, violas, and cellos from renowned French bow makers including Eugène Nicolas Sartory, François Nicolas Voirin, and Joseph Henry. Sold directly to professional soloists, collectors, and orchestras.
- Bein & Fushi Certificates of Authenticity Trusted authentication certificates providing a full description of instruments and bows including photos, measurements, and expert insurance appraisal. The fee is 5% of the fair market value of the instrument or bow.
- Appraisal Services Expert written appraisals for insurance purposes, including valuations for major collections or estates. Appraisers were trained by co-founder Robert Bein. Pricing: $250 per instrument valued up to $10,000; $450 per instrument valued over $10,000; $95 to $135 for additional instruments on the same letter; $95 for updated insurance appraisals.
- Restoration Services World-class repair and restoration services for stringed instruments and bows, provided by trained restorers including those trained by Robert Bein. Available to professional musicians, collectors, and other owners of fine instruments.
- Bein & Fushi Magazine Digital magazine subscription published for over 40 years, featuring stunning photographs and articles on rare stringed instruments, rising stars, Stradivari Society news, and special events. Available in digital format since 2017.
Companies that use Bein & Fushi
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bein & Fushi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bein & Fushi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Mary GalvincoreCo-founded The Stradivari Society with Geoffrey Fushi in 1985, with encouragement from legendary Dorothy DeLay. The Society is dedicated to the preservation and pursuit of excellence in classical music by identifying promising artists and uniting them with the finest instruments.
- Paige Ben-DashancoreExecutive Director of the Stradivari Society, contactable at 312-663-0150 or [email protected]. Manages the organization that helps launch careers of today's brilliant artists.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bein & Fushi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Charles Beare: Charles Beare is a renowned British violin dealer and expert on Stradivari and Guarneri instruments, explicitly referenced in Bein & Fushi's history (introduced Gabriel Ben-Dashan to Robert Bein). Direct competitor in the same niche of authenticated rare Italian instruments.
- Brompton's Fine Instruments: UK-based dealer of fine violins, violas, cellos, and bows with expertise in antique Italian instruments. Serves professional musicians and collectors globally, making them a direct competitor in the same product category and customer segment as Bein & Fushi.
- Tarisio: Tarisio is a leading online auction house specializing in rare and fine stringed instruments and bows, directly competing with Bein & Fushi in the same product category and customer base. It represents the most direct comp for Bein & Fushi's core instrument sales and authentication business.
- J&A Beare: J&A Beare is one of the world's leading dealers and restorers of fine violins, violas, cellos, and bows, based in London. They serve the same soloists, collectors, and orchestras as Bein & Fushi, with comparable expertise in Italian master makers and authentication.
- Florian Leonhard Fine Violins: London-based dealer specializing in rare Italian violins, violas, cellos, and bows, with a focus on fine antique instruments and expert restoration. Competes directly with Bein & Fushi for the same high-net-worth collectors and professional soloist market.
Broad incumbents
- Skinner Auctioneers: Skinner is a US-based auction house that has handled important musical instrument sales including fine stringed instruments. Provides an alternative channel for collectors and estates seeking to buy or sell rare instruments, competing with Bein & Fushi for transaction flow.
- Christie's: Global auction house with a dedicated musical instruments department. While not specialized exclusively in stringed instruments, Christie's handles major sales of rare violins and bows, competing with Bein & Fushi for top-tier consignment and authentication.
- Sotheby's: Major international auction house with a musical instruments department that handles rare and important stringed instruments. Competes with Bein & Fushi for consignments of high-value violins and bows, though operates as a broad incumbent rather than a niche specialist.
Others
- Peter Infeld Violins: While primarily a string manufacturer (Thomastik-Infeld), the brand has historical connections to the fine instrument world and serves overlapping professional musicians. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but serves the same end-customer base of professional string players.
Regional players
- Lindsey Rottenberger Fine Violins: US-based dealer of fine stringed instruments and bows with showrooms in California. While operating in the same market, they focus on a broader price range of professional instruments and bows rather than the ultra-premium authenticated master's instruments at Bein & Fushi's core.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bein & Fushi social profiles
Digital presenceBein & Fushi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bein & Fushi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bein & Fushi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bein & Fushi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bein & Fushi
What does Bein & Fushi do?
Bein & Fushi is the world's premier dealer and restorer of rare, antique, and modern violins, violas, cellos, and bows from legendary Italian and French makers. The company sells instruments directly from its Chicago showroom, provides Bein & Fushi Certificates of Authenticity, written insurance appraisals, and world-class repair and restoration services, and operates the Stradivari Society artist-loan program.
Is Bein & Fushi a public or private company?
Bein & Fushi is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Bein & Fushi founded?
Bein & Fushi was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bein & Fushi based?
Bein & Fushi is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bein & Fushi make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Instrument and Bow Sales are the primary driver. The others are certificates of Authenticity, appraisal Services and bein & Fushi Magazine.
Who are Bein & Fushi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Charles Beare, Brompton's Fine Instruments, Tarisio, J&A Beare and Florian Leonhard Fine Violins. Broad incumbents are Skinner Auctioneers, Christie's and Sotheby's. Peter Infeld Violins is listed as an others. Lindsey Rottenberger Fine Violins is listed as a regional player.
Does Bein & Fushi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bein & Fushi.
What industry is Bein & Fushi in?
Bein & Fushi's product category is Fine Stringed Instruments & Bows. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAEAH, Used & Vintage Musical Instruments Retail, with a secondary code of CRALAEAF, Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services. Its NAICS code is 459140 and its SIC code is 3931.