Romeo Antoniazzi

History

Romeo Antoniazzi (1862-1925) was born on May 4, 1862, in Cremona, and died in 1925 in Milan, Italy. He was the younger son of Gaetano Antoniazzi. According to John Dilworth in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, he worked with Bisiach and Monzino in Milan. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart states that after a 15-year period of study, he opened his own workshop in Milan in 1887 and soon moved it to Cremona, where he took over his father's business. However, Dilworth notes that while his labels give Cremona as his location, all his work was done in Milan. His best instruments come from the period between 1885 and 1910. Lütgendorff also clarifies that his brother Riccardo was a musician, not a violin maker.

Craft

• Models: He built string instruments of all kinds, utilizing models by Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri, Guadagnini, and Pressenda. He also developed his own personal model, which incorporated a theory he established regarding the thickness of the back and top.
• Varnish: His instruments feature a clear orange-brown varnish, which is sometimes described as rather hard and chippy.
• Workmanship: His violins are noted for their beautiful workmanship and good tone. Generally, his work was a little less consistent than that of his elder brother, Riccardo.
• Labels: His labels include inscriptions such as "Antoniazzi Romeo di Cremona / fece in Cremona l'anno 1890" and "Antoniazzi Romeo Cremonese / fece a Cremona l'anno 1906" [Blot II].

Influence

• Mentorship: He was a student of his father, Gaetano Antoniazzi.
• Pupils: He trained a large number of pupils, including G. Pedrazzini, F. Garimberti, and P. Parravincini.

Legacy

• Awards: He received gold and silver medals at various exhibitions, including Milan, Turin, and Paris. Specifically, he was awarded medals at Turin in 1898 and Paris in 1900.

Summary

Romeo Antoniazzi (1862-1925) was a distinguished Italian violin maker, born in Cremona and active primarily in Milan, despite his labels often indicating Cremona. The younger son and pupil of Gaetano Antoniazzi, he also worked with Bisiach and Monzino. He established his own workshop in Milan in 1887, later moving to Cremona to take over his father's business, though sources conflict on his primary working location. Antoniazzi was known for his instruments based on Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, Guadagnini, and Pressenda models, as well as his own personal design incorporating a unique theory of plate thickness. His work, characterized by a clear orange-brown varnish, earned him gold and silver medals at exhibitions in Milan, Turin, and Paris. He also trained notable pupils such as G. Pedrazzini, F. Garimberti, and P. Parravincini.