CONTENTS OF PAGE:

* INTRODUCTION
* ITALIAN VIOLINS AT GAINESVILLE VIOLINS

1. Introduction

Italian violins, old and contemporary, represent to many people the epitome of violin-making. Due to the increasing demand for such violins, Gainesville Violins has taken steps to ensure that it will always be able to offer fine old Italian violins as well as the best in contemporary, affordable, Italian violins.

CREMONA

The city of Cremona, the cradle of Italian violin-making, is situated in Northern Italy on the Po river. It was known in the Middle Ages as a center of learning and later (in the 17th–18th centuries) for the violins made by the Amati's, the Guarneri's, the Stradivari's and their successors. (Of course there were and are other violin-making centers in Italy, apart from Cremona, such as Brescia, Milan, Mantua and more.)

Cremona scenes.		(Courtesy Musafia.)

AMATI

The founder of the Cremonese school of violin-making was Andrea Amati (c 1520–c 1578), whose earliest violins date from c 1564. He is credited with the basic design of the modern violin. His grandson, Nicolo Amati (1596–1684), brought the Amati- style violin to its height after 1645. Antonio Stradivari was a pupil of Nicolo.

STRADIVARIUS

Stradivarius mixing varnish.	Antonio Stradivari (Latinized to Antonius Stradivarius) (ca 1644-1737) was apprenticed to Nicolo Amati c 1658 and may have remained with him until Amati's death in 1684. Stradivari's earliest extant label is dated 1666 and his last 1737. His finest instruments were made after 1700. He produced some 1,100 instruments, of which about 540 violins, 12 violas and 50 cellos are known. His workmanship brought the violin to perfection.
Strad's family crest. Stradivari's logo.         A violin bridge by Stradivari.

GUARNERIUS

	The first craftsman of the Guarneri family was Andrea Guarneri (ca 1626–1698), a pupil of Nicolo Amati. The greatest violinmaker of the family was Giuseppe Guarneri (Joseph Guarnerius) (1698–1744), called "del Gesu" because he signed his labels with a cross and the letters IHS. Many soloists prefer his violins to those of Stradivari for their dark tone and greater power.
Guarneri del Gesu's logo.

2. Italian violins at Gainesville Violins

The violin design, shape, form, pattern and model of Stradivarius and Guarneri del Gesu "won" in the long run. Currently, almost no other classic Italian makers' violins are emulated or copied, except for the occasional Montagnana and Guadagnini. Most contemporary makers follow Stradivarius or Guarneri patterns.

The contemporary Italian violins offered by Gainesville Violins have all been made by Italians born in Italy and working in Italy. The Cremonese makers are members of the Cremona Consortium which constitutes a benchmark of authenticity. These fine instruments are priced very competitively and represent great value for your money!

Logo of the Consortium of Cremona Violin Makers.
		Oleg Geyer, FL, with some Italian violins.

DANIELE TONARELLI AND ANDREA VERAZZANI

		Daniele Tonarelli was born in Cremona in 1976. He graduated at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona 1994. His instruments consistently rank highly in violin-making competitions. His workshop is in Cremona. His instruments are made following the classic Cremonese models. He usually uses a brilliant and transparent varnish. Andrea Verazzani works in the workshop under the supervision of Tonarelli. The certificate of authenticity is signed and stamped by Tonarelli. The violin shown here is available for $8,500.00 which is unbelievable value for money and a great investment. It has a singularly sweet yet powerful tone.
Daniele Tonarelli.

FOR SALE: A Varazzani violin. Certificate by Tonarelli. Price $8,500.

VITTORIO VILLA

Vittorio Villa was born in 1961 in Monza. As violinist he performed with many important orchestras. He graduated from the International School of Violinmaking in Cremona, where he currently teaches. He has been a finalist in many violin-making competitions. He has made over a hundred instruments and works in two styles: "new-looking" and "antiqued". His varnish is of a transparent dark orange color. The violin pictured here has been sold for $12,000.00.

A violin and certificate by Vittorio Villa, 2004. SOLD.

PIETRO MASCHIARELLI

Maschiarelli worked in London. The fine 1872 violin shown here has been sold for $11,000.00.

A violin by Pietro Maschiarelli, 1872. SOLD.

ALESSANDRO MEZZADRI

		Mezzadri (1690-1732) worked in Ferrara, Italy. This wonderful specimen was owned by Panos Tokalon in Pretoria, South Africa, and purchased through Jan by Chris van der Zee, currently based in Detmold, Germany.
Panos Tokalon.

A violin by Alessandro Mezzadri. SOLD.

		Chris playing the Mezzadri.
Chris van der Zee and Jan.

AMON BILMARK

Bilmark was a pupil of the great Sacconi in Rome. (Sacconi was the author of the book "The Secrets of Stradivari" and later worked in NewYork city.) Bilmark's violins are highly acclaimed. This violin, in the style of Guarneri, was made in 1937 by Bilmark in Durban, South Africa, and purchased from Jan by Matt King, Tallahassee, FL.

				A violin by Sacconi.
A violin by Amon Bilmark. SOLD.

Matthew King playing Lalo's "Symphonie Espagnole" and St Saens's 3rd Violin Concerto on the Bilmark violin.

ALFREDO GALEA

Galea first immigrated to South Africa and thereafter to California. This fine violin, in the style of Stradivari, was made in 1960, played by Abrie de Wet of the Odeion String Quartet in South Africa, and finally purchased by Devon Connell (nee Hawk) of Ocala, FL, currently teaching in Tallahassee, FL.

A violin by Alfredo Galea, 1960. SOLD.

		Devon helping Erica Eckland select a fine bow from Gainesville Violins (2004).
Devon Connell with the Galea violin.

ANDREA POSTACCHINI

Postacchini lived ca 1786-1862 in Vermo, Italy. His violins are very desirable and sought-after. This fine specimen has been sold for $30,000.00.

A violin by Andrea Postacchini. SOLD.