1 mins
MY SPACE
A peek into lutherie workshops around the world
ALL PHOTOS ANDREA ZANRÈ
Lutherie
LUTHIERS
ELISA SCROLLAVEZZA & ANDREA ZANRÈ
LOCATION Parma, Italy
We’ve been based in this building in Parma for more than a decade, but a couple of years ago we moved everything to a different section of the same building.
It was partly to take advantage of the larger space, with a total area of around 200 sq m, and partly because our previous workshop was listed as a residential apartment, whereas this one’s listed as an office. So we can take advantage of the lower taxes as well.
As well as the workspace shown here, where both of us work, we have a second room for our assistants, Alberto and Milena. Alberto’s been working with us for around ten years and makes his own instruments, so doesn’t need much supervision. Milena takes care of a lot of the business side, and is very independent herself.
We also have a smaller room for varnishing, a large entrance hall where we sell strings and accessories, a larger showroom where customers can try out instruments, an office with a small kitchen, and a storage room for books and cases.
The start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 was quite scary for us, as we didn’t know what the effect would be on business. However, it turned out that customers were happier to commission instruments from us without needing to come to the workshop, so things mainly carried on as normal. Also, we spend a lot of time examining instruments and publishing books about them, which is something we could carry on doing throughout the pandemic.
Another thing Elisa could continue with was her work as a sculptor. Our showroom contains some of h erartworks,includingaheadofMedusaandacoupledancinga tango. We often listen to tango music while we’re working on our instruments, along with a lot of classical and jazz.
I NTERVIEW BY CHRISTIAN LLOYD