10 mins
STEFANO CONIA
A peek into lutherie workshops around the world
LUTHIER
LOCATION
Cremona, Italy
ALL PHOITOS STEFANO CONIA IL GIOVANE
My workshop is in Cremona’s Corso Garibaldi in the heart of the city, just a few yards from the ‘Casa Nuziale’ where Antonio Stradivari lived. I’ve been here almost since I graduated from the Cremona International Violin Making School in 1972; I worked briefly with my father before moving in here. I studied at the school under Pietro Sgarabotto, Gio Batta Morassi and Francesco Bissolotti, and ended up teaching there myself for 23 years. I retired from teaching in 1999 but still make 15 instruments per year. Putting them together in the white can take around three weeks, but since every one needs 30 coats of varnish, the whole process can take up to three months.
I do almost everything in this one room; I have an office and a library, but all the actual work takes place here. Rather than a showroom I have a large cabinet with space for about 15 instruments at any one time. I used to have assistants and apprentices working with me, but now I find it easier to work by myself. I use all three of the workbenches in the picture; the central one in the window is where I do all the varnishing, as having natural light is very important to my work. It also looks out on to the courtyard garden, which gives lots of inspiration throughout the year. From time to time we have small chamber concerts in the garden, often with customers performing on my instruments.
I’ve held on to every piece of equipment I’ve ever used since I started this workshop. I’ve always felt that every tool is important, and I’ve never thrown one away – so I have knives and planes that I made when I was a student, and even more that I inherited from my father. I think that hanging on to the same tools allows you to make the singular characteristics that identify your style as a luthier. For example, I like English planes in particular, for their excellent steel.
INTERVIEW BY CHRISTIAN LLOYD