GIUSEPPE DEL LUNGO

A close look at the work of great and unusual makers

Giuseppe Del Lungo, father of the better-known Alfredo Del Lungo, was born in 1883 in Borgo San Lorenzo, near Florence. He began as a self-taught violin maker but was later advised by Valentino De Zorzi, from whom he also inherited some tools. He devoted himself mainly to restoration, working for some years as a luthier for the Florence Conservatoire. The few instruments he did build are today very rare, especially given Del Lungo’s early death at the age of just 43.

Considering this fact, it is interesting to note that Del Lungo’s violins, such as the 1925 example shown here, have a precise stylistic identity. This is highlighted by the excellent craftsmanship of the maker, who puts his own personal stamp on a style that can now be defined unquestionably as ‘the modern Tuscan style’. This style took shape in the second half of the 19th century, thanks above all to the work of De Zorzi, the main inspiration for Tuscan violin making in the 20th century.

INSTRUMENT

The violin shown here is elegant and well made. The very round model testifies to the influence of Valentino De Zorzi, inspired by Nicolò Amati and Jacob Stainer but reworked and personalised, particularly in the scroll and the very inclined f-holes.

FORM AND CONSTRUCTION

The archings and edges are highlighted by a deep and elongated fluting towards the inside. The purfling, 3.5mm from the edge, is in maple and stained wood, with long and elegant bee-stings in the corners, which have a more central direction than the Cremonese style. The mortise depth of the neck root into the top-block is unusually deep: 10–11mm instead of the conventional 6mm.

SCROLL

The scroll contrasts somewhat with the body in size. Although elegant and well made, it is large, especially in the volute, and closes with an extra quarterturn. The lateral scoop is deep and well done, and ends with a concavity that tends to highlight the chamfer.

The back of the scroll is also wide and closes at the chin with a somewhat pointed shape. The frontal fluting is very accurate, right up to the eye of the volute.

The jaws of the pegbox are rounded, while both the inside of the pegbox and the inside of the f-holes are perfectly varnished and identical in colour to the rest of the instrument.

INTERIOR

All the blocks are made of spruce, while the linings are of light wood, possibly poplar, willow or lime. They are cut to size and glued to the ribs, only touching the blocks – not inserted into them.

VARNISH

The varnish is a pleasant light brown colour on a greenish-yellow ground. It is thin in thickness with a slight craquelure in a fine mesh.

LABEL

The instrument bears the original label from the year prior to the author’s death. It reads, in ink: ‘Giuseppe Del Lungo / fece in Firenze anno 1925’.

ALL PHOTOS MICHELE MECATTI

MAKER GIUSEPPE DEL LUNGO

NATIONALITY ITALIAN

BORN 1883

DIED 1926

INSTRUMENT VIOLIN

DATE 1925

Back and stop lengths taken with callipers; all others with a tape measure