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

Books › A dictionary of violin makers › scan 24

Scan 24

A dictionary of violin makers

24 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 14. See the scan on archive.org.

1Cabresy. Is only known by a bass dated 1725.
2Cabroli, Lorenzo. Worked in Milan about 1716. His violins are not very good, he used yellow varnish.
3Cabroly. Was working in Toulouse about 1740-47. His instruments are fairly good, he used pale red varnish. Label: "Fait par Cabroly à Toulouse, 1747."
4Caeste, Gaetano. A maker in Cremona in 1677.
5Caesto (Caesta), Pietro Antonio della. Worked in Treviso, 1660-80, and cleverly imitated the Stradivari model.
6Cahusac. Worked in association with the sons of Banks in London about 1788.
7Calcani (Calcagni), Bernardo. A maker in Genoa, 1710-50. His instruments are carefully made, on the model of Stradivari, with beautiful golden or orange-red varnish, a few with yellow varnish, with small scroll and well cut sound-holes. Label: "Bernardius Calcanius, fecit Genuae, 1710"; another similar label is dated 1750.
8Calonardi, Marco. A maker in Cremona in the 17th century.
9Calot (Callot), b. 1810, Mirecourt. First worked under Clément in Paris, but in 1830 went into partnership with Augière. His instruments were beautifully made and had a fine tone.
10Calvarolla, Bartolommeo, of Torre Baldone (Bergamo). Worked about 1753-67 in both Bologna and Bergamo. His instruments are fairly well made, with yellow varnish, somewhat like those of Ruggeri in form, but the scroll is weak and badly proportioned. Label: "Bartolommeo Calvarolla, fecit Bergame, 176—."
11Calzavara, Santo, of Padua, about 1764. The label: "Santo Calzavara, fece in Padova, l'anno 1764," was found in a small mandoline.
12Camilli, Camillus (Camilus di Camila). Worked in Mantua about 1739-50. He followed the Stradivari pattern, and used carefully selected wood; his violins have a beautiful tone, and are varnished pale red, somewhat similar to Landolfi's instruments; the sound-holes are wide and short. Label: "Camillus Camilli, fecit Mantuæ, 1739"; a similar label is dated 1750.
13Camillio, Davido. A maker in Cremona in 1755
14Campion. A guitar of his, made of mahogany wood, with six strings, with ebony and mother-of-pearl ornamentation, was exhibited in 1823.
15Camploy, J. A maker in Verona. Exhibited two violins at Munich in 1854, on which he had used a varnish of his own invention.
16Capo. In Milan in 1717, according to a label.
17Cappa, Giofredo (Goffredo). Probably born at Cremona. Was working there under the Amatis about 1590, and later, about 1640, in Saluzzio (Piedmont). Made both large and small violins, more valuable as specimens of old Italian work than for their tone; the large instruments are preferable. His violoncellos show some of his best work, but are too much arched, and the sound-holes are badly cut; the wood varies, that used in Cremona was of foreign growth, but in Piedmont he used locally grown wood, of coarse fibre; the varnish is generally golden or yellow colour, but varies a good deal; the purfling is carelessly done. The pattern was often too large and had later to be cut down. Labels: "Joffredus Cappa in Saluzzio, fecit anno 1640"; "Joffridus Cappa, fecit salutiis, anno 16—."
18Cappa, Giachimo (Gioacchino) and Guiseppe. Possibly sons of Giofredo. Were both makers, working in Saluzzio and in Turin about 1661-1712. There are instruments dated 1712, but of no particular merit.
19Carcanius. A very old label printed on parchment is dated Cremona, 1500.
20Carcassi, Lorenzo Francesco and Tommaso. Worked in Florence about 1735-58. Though not in the first rank of makers, their workmanship was good; they used yellow-brown varnish. Label: "Lorº e Tomº Carcassi in Firenze, nell' anno 1752, all' insegnò del Giglio."
21Carlo, Guiseppe. A maker in Milan in 1769.
22Carlomordi, Carlo. A maker in Verona in 1654.
23Caron. Worked in Versailles, 1775-85. Was maker to the Queen. His instruments are not in any way remarkable, an alto, well made, with brown-black varnish, was labelled: "Caron, luthier

Makers on this page

The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.