Scan 71
Cremona: an account of the Italian violin-makers and their instruments, 1894
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 49. See the scan on archive.org.
1instruments are varnished either brown or yellow, and undoubtedly with spirit varnish. The earlier instruments have only single purfling, but later almost all have double, which is often used on the backs for ornamentation. On account of this, violins with double purflings are often erroneously called Maggini violins.
3Maggini used a broad model; the archings begin to rise from the edges, the sides are rather low, the F holes have a pointed shape, and are long and characteristic. The scroll is of bold design. The violins attain a high value on account of their grand tone, and are prized as solo instruments to an extraordinary extent. De Beriot caused a great sensation with his Maggini violin; he sold it shortly before his death to Prince de Chimay for 15,000 francs. (r)
5131. MAGGINI, Pietro Santo. Brescia, 1630-1680. Son of Giovanni Paolo. His violins are well made, and have a good quality of tone, equal to those of his father; they have double purflings and similar ornamentation. His contra-basses are excellent.
7(r) This country is happy in possessing a number of fine violas by Maggini. Mr. A. Hobday's, formerly in the possession of Mr. Zerbini, may be mentioned as a specimen of good workmanship, with fine tone: and Mr. Emil Kreuz possesses a good specimen. Another Maggini violin, formerly the property of De Beriot, now belongs to Mr. H. Sternberg. Some excellent copies, both in varnish and tone, of Maggini's violins were made in recent years by the younger Gilkes. Other valuable instruments are in the possession of Captain Warner, Sir Joseph Chitty, and Baron Erlanger, the last being the George III. instrument. Giovanni Paolo Maggini was born in 1580; he married Maddalena Anna Foresti in 1615, and died about 1632, though the exact date is unknown. They had ten children, of whom the seventh, Carlo Francesco, the only son who survived him, became a silk merchant. Evidence exists of other families of the name of Maggini at Brescia; and Pietro Santo Maggini, the violin-maker, may have been related to Giovanni Paolo.
9For much valuable information concerning, and a critical account of, Maggini and his work, see the valuable monograph, "Gio. Paolo Maggini, his Life and Work." (W. E. Hill & Sons; Novello, Ewer & Co., 1892.) In that work are given some illustrations of the fine Maggini violin formerly in the Dumas Collection at Lyons, and now the property of Captain W. P. Warner. Vieuxtemps possessed a fine specimen, recently in the possession of an amateur in Moscow.
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