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

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Scan 39

A dictionary of violin makers

38 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 29. See the scan on archive.org.

1Lived 1735-80. Work fairly good; he used brown varnish. For trade purposes, sometimes dated his labels from Cremona.
3Ficker, Johann Gottlob, of Markneukirchen, b. 1744; d. 1832. His violins were excellent, but he also thought it necessary to use "Cremona" labels.
5Fiker (Ficker), Johann Christian. Was working in Neukirchen (Saxony) 1700-22. Label: "Johann Christian Fiker, Lauten- und Geigenmacher in Neukirchen, bey Adorf."
7Filano, Donato. A maker of mandolines in Naples, in the rua di S. Chiara, about 1782. In a mandoline of very pretty workmanship, inlaid with mother-of-pearl on tortoiseshell, with purfling of ivory, was the MS. label: Donato Filano, fecit alla rua di S. Chiara, a.D. 1782, Napoli."
9Findlay, J. A maker in Padanaram, Forfarshire. He died 1896.
11Fiorillo, Giovanni. Working in Ferrara in 1780. His instruments are made both on German and Italian patterns, the sound-holes are like those of Stainer. His violoncellos are among his best instruments.
13Fiorini, Giuseppe, son of Raffaele Fiorini, b. 1867. He early showed signs of having inherited his father's tastes, and when sixteen (after having received a good education) commenced making violins. He made rapid progress, and the instruments which he exhibited at Milan and Turin show that he is one of the best Italian makers of the present time.
15Fiorini, Raffaele, b. 1828 at Pianoro; d. 1898. When still a child, his parents moved to Bazzano, where a certain Tadolini, of Modena, brother of the violin maker, remembering what he could of his brother's methods, used to make small violins to amuse young Raffaele; the latter soon became interested and endeavoured to assist. Raffaele gradually gained knowledge and experience, and in 1867 went to Bologna to work seriously for several years, finally opening his own workshop in the Palazzo Pepoli there.
17Firth, G. Was working in Leeds in 1836 according to the following label: "G. Firth, No. 110, Briggate, Leeds, 1836." He was a pupil of William Booth, sen.
19Fiscer, Carlo and Giuseppe; two brothers working in Milan together about 1760-64. Their work resembles more that of German than Italian makers, but their varnish is better; it is a yellow-red colour and, for that date, very satisfactory. In a well-made violin is the label: "Giuseppe Carlo fratelli Fiscer, fabbricatori d'instrumenti in Milano, vicino alla balla, 1764."
21Fischer, Anton, b. 1794; d. 1879. A maker in Vienna.
23Fischer, Johann Ulrich. The label, "J. Fischer, Landshut, 1722," was in a tromba-marina in the Collection of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna. A viola da gamba was dated 1720.
25Fischer, Zacharie, b. Nov. 5, 1730, Würzburg; d. there Nov. 27, 1812. He announced, in 1786, that in making his instruments he employed a new method by means of which they equalled those of Stradivari and of Stainer. This was the method of drying the wood in an oven, which has since often been tried but never found to answer, as it is impossible to make the process gradual enough, the result being that the tone loses all brilliancy. His instruments are liked.
27Flac, Philippe, b. about 1532. A maker of lutes and guitars in Lyons about 1568-72.
29Fletté (or Hetté), Benoist. Worked in Paris about 1756-63. Few of his instruments are known.
31Fleuri (Fleury), Jean François. Was working in Paris, 1783-5.
33Fleury, Benoist. A maker in Paris in the rue des Boucheries about 1751-91. He made fairly good violins. An alto dated 1751 is known and a guitar. In the Paris Conservatoire Collection is a bass-viol, well made, dated 1755. In 1791 he was still working, repairing violins, double-basses, and altos. Label: "Benoist Fleury, rue des Boucheries, Faubourg Saint-Germain, Paris, 1774."
35Florenus (Florinus), Guidantus or Florentus. A maker in Bologna about 1700-60. His instruments show a distinct decadence; the workmanship is heavy, the varnish alone is satisfactory; he followed the model of Nicola Amati. Label: "Guidantus Florenus, Bononiae, 170—"; a similar one dated 175—. See "Guidantus."
37Fonclause, Joseph (called "Le Mayeux"), b. 1800, à la Conté; d. 1865, Paris. First worked with Pageot at Mirecourt then, about 1825, went to Paris and entered the employ of J. B. Vuillaume. He became a very clever maker of violin bows, and later, when he started his own business, first in rue Pagevin, then in the rue Montmartre, always marked his bows with his name.

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