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

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Scan 85

A dictionary of violin makers

38 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 75. See the scan on archive.org.

1R.
3Racceris. A maker in Mantua in 1670. His instruments were very similar to those of the Gagliano family, with one of whom he is said to have been in partnership.
5Raffaele, Nella (or Della). Was working in Brescia in the 18th century. He followed the pattern of Maggini, his instruments generally have the sides ornamented with inscriptions, and have brown varnish; they are not of great merit.
7Railich, Giovanni Worked in Padua about 1690. Label: "Giovanni Railich lautaro in Padova."
9Rambaux, Claude Victor, b. Feb. 25, 1806, at Darney in the Vosges; d. June 25, 1871, at Mirecourt. In 1820 was apprenticed to L. Moitessier in Mirecourt, and remained with him till July 12, 1824. Then went to Caen and worked under Thibout, 1824-27, and then to Paris, where, from Aug. 22, 1827, till June 7, 1838, he worked with Gand. In 1838 he started his own business at [address hidden]. The new instruments that he made show great ability, but he chiefly devoted himself, with infinite patience and care, to repairing old instruments; he was especially skilful in "cutting down" the old Italian violoncellos, which vary much in pattern, and generally have to be reduced in size to that of the Stradivari model, so as to meet modern requirements. After nineteen years' work in Paris, he retired to Mirecourt in June, 1857, having gained silver medals at the 1844 and 1849 Exhibitions, and the first class medal at the 1855 Paris Exhibition. Label: "Claude Victor Rambaux Breveté à Paris, 1846, C.V.R." He had two sons, but neither of them became violin makers.
11Rambouts. See "Rombouts."
13Ramftler, Franz, b. May 23, 1834, Munich. Pupil of Andreas Engleder in Munich; started his own business there in 1860. Principally repairs and deals in old Italian instruments, but has lately made some very good new violins on the Stradivari pattern, using a varnish of his own invention. Was appointed Court violin maker.
15Rance, Thomas. A maker in Brussels about 1680-85. A violin of ordinary workmanship had a flat back, the sound-holes rather wide, and purfling well executed.
17Ranta, Pietro. A maker in Brescia in 1733, who followed the Amati pattern.
19Raphael. See "Raffaele."
21Rasura, Vincenzo. Worked at Lugo in 1785.
23Rau, J. F. A maker in Nuremberg. Exhibited at Munich, in 1854, a violin of good though rather coarse tone, which would improve with time.
25Rauch, of Breslau, and Rauch, of Würzburg, were two brothers working about 1730-60. They made good violins on a model peculiar to themselves, using varnish of a red-brown colour; the tone was full and powerful.
27Rauch, Jacob. A maker in Mannheim about 1720-50. He produced some very good work, the quality of tone of his violins is said to be very similar to that of Stainer violins; he also made excellent altos, violoncellos, and double-basses. In an arch-lute of Laux Maler, which had been restored by Rauch, was found the label: "Jacob Rauch Hof-Lauten und Geigenmacher in Mannheim, anno 1740. Zugericht." Another label was dated 1747.
29Rauch, Sebastian. Is said to have worked in Hamburg about 1725, and in Leitmeritz, in Bohemia, 1742-63. His instruments were much arched, and the work was not carefully finished.
31Raut, Jean. A native of Bretagne, who worked in Rennes till about 1790. A few violins of his are known, made on the pattern of Guarneri, with red varnish.
33Rautmann. Makers in Brunswick, 1870.
35Rawlins. Was working in London in 1779. Label found in a viola: "Henricus Rawlins, Londini, 1779." Another label: "Restauratus Henricus Rawlins auspicio Giardini Londini, 1781." (Giardini was at that time leader of the orchestra at the Italian Opera.)
37Rayman, Jacob, b. in the Tyrol, but settled in London about 1620, living first at [address hidden], then at Bell Yard, Southwark. He worked till about 1650. He seems to have been one of the earliest makers of violins in England; they are of small size, of rather an ugly pattern, not arched.

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