PAOLO GUADAGNINI

WRITTEN BY RICHARD WARD

IN FOCUS

A close look at the work of great and unusual makers

Spanning six generations, the Guadagnini family was the longest dynasty of Italian makers. Starting with Giovanni Battista, who was born in 1711, the family’s violin making history continued until 1948 with the death of Francesco Guadagnini (born in 1863). The last generation of the Guadagnini dynasty was Francesco’s son Paolo, who was born in 1908. He trained at first in his father’s workshop and later improved his skills in the Turin atelier of Annibale Fagnola. Unfortunately he had a very short career: drafted into the Italian army during the Second World War, he died on a troop transport ship which was bombed on 28 December 1942.

The violin shown here dates from the early part of Paolo’s career. Although we don’t know for certain, Paolo probably made only about 20 instruments before his death and spent part of his time doing repairs and handling some of the business aspects of the successful Guadagnini firm. This violin, made in his father’s style, shows how gifted he really was, especially considering that he was only 21 years old at the time. We can only imagine the quality of instruments he might have made, had he lived into his sixties or seventies. And, one wonders, would there have been yet another generation (or two) of Guadagnini makers?

This violin is well documented in the violin literature. It is illustrated in volume 4 of Eric Blot’s Liuteria Italiana 1860–1950 (2001), as well as in volume 4 of Italian and French Violin Makers (Jost Thöne, 2008).

MATERIALS

The spruce top of this violin is unusual in that it is of one piece rather than the usual two. The grain on the edges of the bass side is narrow, but most of the top is of even, medium width. The back is of maple with a mostly medium-narrow flame, which becomes fainter towards the edges.

The ribs are of maple with a more pronounced medium flame. The scroll has a faint medium-width flame but is almost plain at the top.

FORM AND CONSTRUCTION

The Guadagnini family frequently followed the model of its founder, Giovanni Battista, and this violin is no exception. As indicated by the label, it was only Paolo’s fifth instrument and some of the details of workmanship show that he was still perfecting his skills. One example is the black edging on the scroll chamfers, which are slightly uneven and inelegant. While lacking the refinement that one could expect from a more experienced maker, it is remarkable that Paolo achieved this level of skill so quickly.

PURFLING

The purfling is cleanly inlaid and is fine and delicate, set well in (3–4mm) from the edges. In fact, compared to a 1921 violin by his father Francesco, the purfling on this violin shows more refinement and attention to detail.

VARNISH

The varnish, which is relatively thick although transparent, is a red–orange colour and shows only moderate wear at the centre and lower right back. It is almost identical to that of his father’s violin of 1921.

MAKER

PAOLO GUADAGNINI

NATIONALITY

ITALIAN

BORN

1908

DIED

1942

INSTRUMENT

VIOLIN

DATE

1929