Art of Violin Making

Perhaps there was a division of labour, with the sons and other assistants roughing out the work, which could then have been completed by the master himself.

The ‘Salabue’ Stradivari is important and fascinating because it is so well preserved and has many detailed and characteristic similarities with other instruments the master made during each of the periods throughout his working life

A well-known violin of this period is the ‘Betts’ of 1704.

The Amatese period continued for twenty-five year

at this time Stradivari used local wood from Lombardy.

his work has tended to be overshadowed historically by surrounding circumstances. He would have been in competition with some eminent makers – Antonio Stradivari, Joseph Guarneri, Carlo Bergonzi and others

Both Jacob Stainer and Stradivari are often assumed to have been Nicolò’s pupils, although the evidence in support of this is not conclusive. Both were clearly influenced by Nicolò’s work.

Nicolò’s workmanship has been acknowledged as being amongst the very best: ‘No maker, not even Stradivari, cut finer f-holes

He is remembered for the design of his ‘Grand Pattern’ violin

One outcome of the plague was that Nicolò became a wealthy man with new responsibilities. At the age of only thirty-five he was the owner of the most important violin enterprise in the country. As the senior family member, he was now responsible for the welfare of those relatives left widowed or orphaned.