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

Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 236

Scan 236

the history of the violin, 1864

4 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 214. See the scan on archive.org.

1brown. The wood of the lower vibrating plate, sides, and head, remarkably plain; but the wood of the upper vibrating plate exceedingly fine.
3The only Albani of much reputation is Mathias, who was born at Botzen, or Bulsani in the Tyrol, about 1621; Fetis calls him a pupil of Steiner, while in "Luthomonographie" it is stated that he was a pupil of Nicolas Amati, and the first instructor of Steiner; but from the precocious talent of Steiner the probability is that he was the teacher, if either, or they may both have worked together under the Amatis, though their violins do not partake of the outline or model of that family. Mathias made some fine instruments of rather high model, the varnish being of reddish brown; the first string generally rather brilliant but dry, the second powerful, and the third and fourth nasal. "Luthomonographie" describes one, having the lower plate in two parts, made of fine wood, with reddish varnish, and ornamented with ivory and ebony; the date given is 1712, but this may have been one of his son's, of the same name, who was a good maker, and may have been the maker also of two violins that belonged to Francesco Albinoni, of Milan, with the respective dates of 1702 and 1709. Gerbert mentions an instrument of Mathias with the date of 1654; Hill gives a ticket with the same date, which appears to be the same as that given by Hawkins; we have the following ticket—"Mathias Albani Fecit Bulsani Tyrol 1651." Dr. Forster mentions a violin of Signor Albani at Palermo, 1659; this may be the same as Paul Albani, named by "Luthomonographie," of Cremona, in 1650, a pupil and imitator of the Amatis, but inferior. We have before referred to a son of Mathias, and a Michel Albani is mentioned at Greece of a later date, whose instruments are of no repute.

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