Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

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Scan 19

A dictionary of violin makers

26 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 9. See the scan on archive.org.

1modern requirements, so that in their original state they are rarely to be met with. The work is careful, the wood well chosen; the varnish, of a red-brown colour, much altered by age, is often rather thick. The violins, altos and violoncellos (the latter being thought to equal the work of his master, Stradivari) are all characterised by a peculiarly penetrating sonorous tone, and are much sought after, sometimes fetching high prices, from £200 to £300. A very fine violoncello was dated 1746. Labels: "Anno 1723, Carlo Bergonzi, fece in Cremona"; the same in a violin dated 1733, and another dated 1731; "Carlo Baganzi, allieve di Nicola Amati, fecit Cremonae, anno 1723"; "Anno 17—, revisto e corretto da me Carlo Bergonzi in Cremona".
3Bergonzi, Carlo, third son of Michel Angelo. Worked in Cremona about 178 and died there about 1820. He made a few violins of little value, with straight, ugly sound-holes; but principally guitars and mandolines.
5Bergonzi (Baganzi), Francesco. Is named as early as 1687. May have been the father of Carlo.
7Bergonzi, Michel Angelo, son of Carlo, b. 1722; d. after 1765. Worked in Cremona about 1740-65. His work is heavy and altogether inferior to that of Carlo, he flattened the model and exaggerated the curves; followed both small and large patterns; the varnish is hard and thick, the tone is nasal. But his double-basses show better work and have a powerful tone, serving well in an orchestra. Label: "Michel Angelo Bergonzi, figlio di Carlo, fece in Cremona, 1740." Another is known, dated 1755.
9Bergonzi, Nicola, eldest son of Michel Angelo. Worked in Cremona about 1755-82. His instruments show a great falling off; made on a similar model to that of his father; his work is often highly finished but is wanting in character; the scroll is cramped, the wood often too close-grained, the varnish poor and thin. Label: "Nicolaus Bergonzi, Cremonensis, faciebat anno 1760"; a tenor dated 1781 is known. He made a great number of violins.
11Bergonzi, Zosimo, brother of Nicola. He worked about the same time, perhaps had more ability; some violoncellos and double-basses of his are fairly well made, but the work, like that of his brother, is much inferior to Carlo's.
13He used a label ornamented like that of Carlo: "Fatto da me Zosimo Bergonzi, l'anno 1777, Cremonae."
15Bernardel, Auguste Sébastien Philippe, b. Jan. 12, 1802, at Mirecourt; d. August 6, 1870, at Bougival. One of the most distinguished French makers. He began as an apprentice in Mirecourt, went to Paris in 1820, worked first under Nicolas Lupot and then under C. F. Gand, whom he left in 1826 in order to start a business of his own in the rue Coquillière. In 1859 he took his two sons into partnership and the firm was called 'Bernardel et fils'; he retired in 1866 so as to facilitate the association of the Gands in his business, which was then styled 'Gand et Bernardel.' He made a large number of excellent instruments, the violoncellos especially having a remarkably fine tone. Label: "Bernardel, luthier ex-ouvrier du Sr Lupot, rue Coquilliere, No 44, à Paris, l'an 1826." This was in a violin made by him soon after he left Gand, perhaps the first to contain his signature; it is beautifully finished and has a fine tone. Printed label: "Médaille d'or et d'argent aux expositions de 1844 et 1849. Bernardel, luthier, élève de Lupot, rue Croix-des-Petits Champs, 21, à Paris, 18— . . . (Signed) Bernardel." Honours: mention, 1827; bronze medals, Paris, 1834 and 1839; silver medal, Paris, 1844, for an alto placed in the 1st class; gold medal, Paris, 1849; a medal of the 2nd class, London, 1851; and a medal of the 1st class, London, 1855, for a violin copied from Maggini, a bass, and a double-bass.
17Bernardel Frères. Ernst Auguste and Gustave Adolphe, sons of Sébastien Philippe; the former b. April 2, 1826, retired from the business in 1886; d. 1899; the latter b. April 26, 1832. When their father retired, in 1866, they continued the business in partnership with Eugène Gand, as "Gand et Bernardel Frères." M. Gustave Bernardel is now head of the firm.
19Bertasio, Luigi. Worked in Piadena, 17—.
21Bertassi, Ambrogio. Working in Piadena about 1730.
23Bertet, Joseph R. A maker in Paris in the 18th century. In an alto of a large pattern, with thick yellow varnish, carefully made, was the label: "Joseph R. Bertet, au Roy David, rue [address hidden]. Roch à Paris, 1754."
25Berti, Antonio. Cortona, 1721. A maker of dulcimers.

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