ballon de paris

A blog about the venerable violin maker

ballon de paris introduce 12 viloin maker

Violins came around long ago, but their popularity boomed in the 16th century triggered by the most famous violin makers in history. Since then, the instrument
has been leading in the classical genre, to mention that it provided us with some of classical music’s greatest melodies and composers.

These master makers became popular because of their marvelous work as luthiers. Their contribution to the art of violin-making is unquestionable and therefore, their methods and models inspire makers up to the present. Now, we bring you a list of 10 of these famous violin makers from the 1700s, who had a huge role in violin-making history!

12 most famous makers | ballon de paris

Andrea Amati (1505-1577)1995.10.2

Andrea Amati of Cremona, Italy, was the first recorded luthier to craft a four-string violin. Although we typically see violins with four strings, this was not always the case, and Amati can be credited with being one of the first violin makers to really standardize the four-string violin which we still use today.

Though the modern instruments are slightly different from the original violins of the 16th century, they are still the same instrument. One of the differences is that it was common for violin makers back then to include their own personal touch to the instrument, like a small design on the violin’s body, for example. The first instrument of Amati has inscribed on its ribs (the side of the violin) “Pietate et Justitia” the motto of French King Charles IX for whom he created the violin.

Andrea Amati was well-praised for his violin making and soon established a school of violin makers. His school of violin making focused primarily on the technique of building violins. The method of creation, the different shapes and sizes of the instruments, the types of materials needed, and the basic format for instruments in the violin family. His standardization of the violin family first started within his Italian family, teaching his sons Antonio and Girolamo who would eventually pass the tradition onto Nicolò Amati, the grandson and most famous of the Amati family.

ballon de paris - adrea amati

Nicolò Amati (1596-1684)1995.10.2

born in Cremona, Italy, was as rebellious as all young violin makers are! Violin making ran through his veins, so we can only imagine the reaction of his family when he began to develop based on their traditional model. The Cremonese luthier made violins that were much smaller than what his family had made in the past, yet they were much more full in tone and produced a large, robust sound. The young violin maker’s instruments surpassed those of his family and still, today, are some of the most sought-after violins in the world.

However rebellious Nicolò might have been, he continued his family legacy by teaching other protégés how to create violins with the same tradition of the finest craftsmanship. Two of his most well-known pupils also surpassed him in notoriety, Antonio Stradivari, and Andrea Guarneri.

ballon de paris - nicole amati

Francesco Ruggieri (1628-1698)1995.10.29

Francesco Ruggieri was the first of an important family of luthiers, the Casa Ruggieri in Cremona, Italy. He was speculated to be one of the earliest apprentices of Nicolò Amati as displayed in his instruments. His violins were visibly inspired by Amati’s “Grand Amati Pattern,” as today many of his instruments are almost as renowned as Nicolò Amati’s violins.

Francesco worked most of his career just outside the walls of Cremona, Italy. There, he was assisted by his three sons as he closely followed the model of his teacher, Nicolò Amati. The Ruggieri tradition was carried on by Francesco’s son, Vincenzo Ruggieri, who was the only of his sons to pursue a successful career as a luthier.

ballon de paris - francesco ruggieri

Antonio Stradradivari (1644-1737)1995.10.30

Antonio Stradivari (c. 1644 - December 18, 1737) was an Italian stringed instrument craftsman who made instruments such as the violin, cello, guitar, viola, and harp. His instruments are often referred to by his Latin name, "Stradivarius". He is considered the creator of the modern standard violin. He was a pupil of Niccolò Amati, who was the most skilled in the art of violin making.

Stradivari was born in Cremona to Alessandro Stradivari and Anna Moroni. His birth year is variously claimed to be 1644, 1649, or 1650. He is believed to have served an apprenticeship under Amati from 1667 to 1679. A label on one of his early violins reads "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Alumnus Nicolaii Amati, Faciebat Anno 1666" (Antonius Stradivarius of Cremona, pupil of Niccolò Amati, made in 1666). By 1680, Stradivari had established himself as an independent instrumentmaker at the Piazza San Domenico, and his reputation as a luthier was beginning to grow. He began to make his own instruments, moving away from Amati's work. He labeled his instruments with the Latin inscription. "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno (year)" (Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno ..., made by Antonio Stradivari of Cremona in the year ...) He considers those made between 1698 and 1725 to be his best work, with 1715 as his peak. Some of the instruments made after 1730 are inscribed "sub disciplina stradivarii" and are known to have been made by his sons Omobono and Francesco. In addition to violins, he made harps, guitars, violas, and cellos, which are now estimated to total more than 1100 pieces. Today, about 650 of them remain. Antonio Stradivari died in Cremona.

ballon de paris - Antonio Stradradivari

Carlo Bergonzi (1683 1747)1995.10.30

Recent research suggests that Carlo Bergonzi, historically assumed to have been a student of Giuseppe Guarneri 'filius Andreae', may have learned violin making primarily through the Rugeri family. While the influence of Guarneri is evident in Bergonzi's work, his physical proximity to Vincenzo Rugeri and social ties between the families suggests a relationship forged outside the prime Amati territory of Cremona. In any case, Bergonzi was probably working independently by the 1720s. In 1746 the Bergonzi family moved into the Casa Stradivari, where they remained for some 12 years, during which time Bergonzi worked on instruments left unfinished upon Stradivari's death in 1737. Carlo's son Michele Angelo and grandson Nicolo continued the violin making tradition until about 1800, though they never achieved the same degree of finesse.

Bergonzi's works feature outstanding materials, exquisite varnish, and consummate execution. A master in his own right, he is overshadowed only by his contemporaries Stradivari and Guarneri 'del Gesù'. READ LESS

ballon de paris - Carlo Bergonzi

Domenico Montagnana(1686-1750)1995.11.15

Domenico Montagnana (24 June 1686 6 March 1750) was an Italian master luthier – based in Venice, Italy. He is regarded as one of the finest violin and cello makers of his time.

His pieces, particularly his cellos, are sought after by orchestras, notable musicians or collectors, and many form parts of collections in museums. The record price for this luthier was $903,924 in 2010 for a violin

Montagnana was born in Lendinara, Italy in 1686. His father, Paolo, was a shoemaker. He made stringed musical instruments (violins, violas, cellos and double basses) in Venice. He was apprenticed in Matteo Sella's workshop (probably also associated with Matteo Goffriller) and after that he opened his own shop, active from 1712, located in Calle degli Stagneri, with insignia "Alla Cremona".

Montagnana met a Venetian woman living in the Calle degli Stagneri/Santo Bartolomeo district, Caterina Berti, whom he married. The couple lived in Venice and had six daughters.

Following the birth of their last child, Caterina began suffering from progressive paralysis, which eventually led to her death in 1748. It seems that this final blow was too much for Montagnana, who until then had been seeking refuge in his workshop and spending much longer time than usual on the meticulous details of his instruments. His health began to decline rapidly, for unspecified causes and, by February 1750, he was bedridden. His death certificate states that he died after being confined to his bed for one month with "hypochondria". He died in Venice, Italy in 1750. His workshop was then inherited by Giorgio Serafin, the nephew of Sanctus Seraphin.

ballon de paris - Domenico Montagnanai

ballon de paris - 12 violin makers

These master makers became popular because of their marvelous work as luthiers. Their contribution to the art of violin-making is unquestionable and therefore,

Giusseppe Guarneri(1698-1744)1995.10.21

Bartolomeo Giusseppe Guarneri was an Italian luthier born into the Guarneri family of Cremona. He was son to distinguished violin maker Andrea Guarneri, and carried on the family dynasty and traditions of violin making. Giusseppe was born in Cremona, Italy in the year of 1698. During his career as a luthier, he rivaled Antonio Stradivari. Their instruments meet each other in quality, as some even claim that Giusseppe’s violins are superior to Stradivari’s.

Many of his instruments were modeled after and derived from his family tradition, but eventually Giusseppe developed his own unique style. Today, fewer than 200 of his instruments survive. And due to the rarity and quality of his violins, their sale prices have been seen to exceed $10 million USD.

To many people this list is just the tip of the iceberg of the worlds most cherished violin makers. Often the best violin is the one that you already have and and can make music on. Keep on practicing and playing and maybe one day you will have the opportunity to see or even play one of the above listed violins.

ballon de paris - Giusseppe Guarneri

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini(1711-1786)1995.11.14

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (often shortened to G. B. Guadagnini; 23 June 1711 – 18 September 1786) was an Italian luthier, regarded as one of the finest craftsmen of string instruments in history. He is widely considered the third greatest maker after Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri "del Gesù". The Guadagnini family was known for their violins, guitars and mandolins.

Almost nothing is known about his early years until he moved to the nearby city of Piacenza in 1738. In 1742, his first violins start to appear. It is unclear from whom or where he learned his trade. Since he joined the woodworking guild, it is likely that he underwent an apprenticeship with a local woodworker; however, there is no evidence of any local instrument makers in Piacenza at the time.

In 1749 Guadagnini moved to Milan, where he continued to make instruments. The reason for his move is unknown, but was perhaps economically motivated as Milan was a much larger city with a larger and more active music scene. During this time a few of his instruments bear labels implying a relationship to Cremona the home — of the renowned violin makers Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri however no evidence — exists that Guadagnini ever lived in Cremona.

He next moved to Turin. Two years later, in 1773, he began his historically important relationship with notable violin collector Count Cozio. Cozio purchased most, if not all, of Guadagnini's output during this time, and also supplied him with most of his wood and other materials. His business partnership with Cozio ended in 1777, though they continued to have dealings with each other. The Count is likely responsible for Guadagnini's marked shift to a more Stradivari-like style during this time, both by pressuring Guadagnini to more closely copy Stradivari and by providing Guadagnini with access to examples of Stradivari's work. Giovanni Battista Guadagnini passed away in Turin on September 18, 1786.

ballon de paris - Giovanni Battista Guadagnini

Louis Garel(1883-1946)1995.11.12

Louis Garel was born into the Garel family in the village of Luberon in the south of France, where he studied musical instrument tuning and construction

His violins have a delicate and unique sonic character. He tuned many stringed instruments, studying their unique structure and sound characteristics, and developed his own style. In 1921, he began to study stringed instruments in earnest at a small musical instrument shop called the "Ballon de Paris. He realized the importance of smoothly neutralizing the distortion of sound that occurs in the high and low registers of a stringed instrument and worked to find a solution. One of his specialties is the "vicuña method," a technique that uses vicuña wool to disperse the density of sound. In 1983, this method was granted a patent for a new technology. Vallon de Paris is a company specializing in musical instruments and acoustic instruments by the sons and brothers who inherited the skills from the Garel family

They have spent many years studying the unique sounds of their instruments, many string players have played Balon de Paris instruments, and they have retained their technology and philosophy, combining modern design with high-performance speaker technology to meet the needs of many music lovers.

Louis Garrel's technique was passed down to four generations. Today, his first grandson is a violin tuner and his second grandson builds speakers using family techniques.

ballon de paris - Louis Garel

Joseph Curtin(1953-)1995.10.14

Joseph Curtin is one of the most innovative and respected violin makers in the world. He has a unique approach to making violins and is constantly exploring new ideas and techniques. His violins are extremely well made and have a beautiful sound. He has built violins for some of the most distinguished artists of our time, including Erick Friedman, Ilya Kaler, Cho-Liang Lin, Elmar Oliveira, Yehudi Menuhin, and Ruggiero Ricci.

In 2005, Curtin was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. In 2013, the “ex-Ricci” Curtin & Alf violin sold in auction for $132,000, a world record price for work by living makers.

ballon de paris - Joseph Curtin

Edgar Russ(1966-)1995.10.15

A household name in Cremona, Edgar Russ is one of the most distinguished makers in Italy. With a very solid track record and excellent instrument appreciation, Edgar has managed to cement himself as one of the premier violin makers to know about.

His instruments are bold and have lots of character. From their aesthetic qualities to their sound profiles, they never disappoint. Edgar makes many different models, from Guarneris to Strads and although each instrument has its own personality, they are all powerful and projecting.

ballon de paris - Edgar Russ

Stefan-Peter Greiner(1966-)1995.10.3

Stefan-Peter Greiner is possibly the most recognized name in violin making in Europe. He is a master luthier with decades of experience. His instruments are highly sought after and he creates what many consider to be some of the best violins in the world. He has a unique and instantly recognizable style. Amongst the many world-class artists who play on his instruments are Christian Tetzlaff, Leonidas Kavakos, Ivry Gitlis, and many more.

Stefan-Peter Greiner makes exclusively antique looking instruments. The aesthetic quality of his instruments is nearly unmatched and he is therefore one of the most highly regarded luthiers today.

ballon de paris - Stefan-Peter Greiner

CRISTIANO SCIPIONI(1969-)1995.10.21

After graduating in Philosophy from the University of Padua and in double bass from the Conservatory of Mantua, Scipioni became interested in the study of violin making and refined his technique and style under the guidance of master Luca Salvadori, following the processes of the traditional “Scuola Cremonese,” using the inside mould.

He has been attracted to musical instruments since when he was a child. During his double bass studies at the Conservatory, Scipioni had the chance to know a Viola da Gamba maker, which helped him make his first bass, giving a start to his passion for violin making.

Besides being played by top-level musicians, Scipioni’s instruments have also been recognized in competitions. In 2013, he won the prize for the quality of tone at the ISB convention in Rochester (NY), and in 2020 won the first prize at the Makers competition held by the “Società Filarmonica di Trento,” among others.

ballon de paris - CRISTIANO SCIPIONI

Francesco Toto(1972-)1995.10.2

Francesco Toto is a highly skilled violin maker with over 25 years of experience. His cellos are also renowned for their quality and sound and musicians come from all over the world to play on them. He is one of the most sought after luthiers in the world and his instruments are in very high demand. He is a prize winner in many competitions including the Violin Society of America's international competition, the Cremona International Competition, amongst others.

His cellos are extremely well made, both aesthetically as well as acoustically. Their sound is powerful yet perfectly balanced between dark and bright. One of the most characteristic features of his instruments is their clear and full tone in every register.

ballon de paris - Francesco Toto

Alessandro di Matteo(1995-)1995.10.14

Alessandro di Matteo is a wonderful violin maker based in Cremona, Italy. From his workshop there, he produces wonderful instruments in true Cremonese fashion.

His use of techniques based on generations of learning allow him to craft very precise and beautiful instruments and the varnish is exquisite. His violins tend to sound powerful and project extremely well with a nasal quality reminiscent of the old masters.

Alessandro di Matteo