Nicolo Gusetto

History

Nicolo Gusetto is a figure whose historical existence is highly debated among luthier historians. According to John Dilworth in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, there is "No biographical evidence for his existence has yet been unearthed, nor are any instruments currently traceable." Dilworth explicitly states that Gusetto is "presumably fictional," despite earlier works like those by Henley and Vannes providing "significantly different dates" and "generous descriptions implying the existence of a significant body of work." Sources contain conflicting information about his working locations and dates; labels reproduced in dictionaries suggest he was a native of Florence, working in Cremona from as early as 1701 to as late as 1813, with some later examples possibly finished by followers after his death. Cecie Stainer's A Dictionary of Violin Makers states he "Worked in Florence, 1730. Was later in Cremona." Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart also describes him as "Aus Florenz stammend" (originating from Florence).

Craft

• Models: Descriptions given of both Tyrolean and Stradivari models.
• Corners: The corners are described as "sehr hervorstehend" (very protruding).
• Purfling: The purfling is noted as "sehr breite (nicht besonders geschickt gemachte) Einlage" (very wide, not particularly skillfully made).
• Top Wood: The top is made of "ungleichmässiges Holz mit engen und weiten Jahren" (uneven wood with narrow and wide grain).
• Archings: The arching is described as "nicht sonderlich schön" (not particularly beautiful).
• Ribs: The ribs are "hohe Zargen, oben und unten 32 mm hoch" (high ribs, 32 mm high at the top and bottom).
• Linings: The linings are "schmale Reifchen" (narrow).
• Back Wood: The back is made of "sehr wenig geflammtes Ahornholz mit vielen Spiegeln" (very little flamed maple with many mirrors).
• Scroll: The scroll is characterized as an "Eigenartige hübsche Schnecke mit kühn durchlaufendem Mittelpunkt" (peculiar beautiful scroll with a boldly continuous center).
• F-holes: The F-holes are described as "sehr gewöhnliche F-Löcher" (very ordinary).
• Varnish: The varnish is a "brauner Spirituslack" (brown spirit varnish).

Further Information

• Labels: Known labels include "Nicolaus Gusetto Fiorentinus / Musicus Instrumentalis / a Cremona Ao 1785" and "Nicol. Gusetto Fiorentino / Fabbricante di violini, Cremonae."
• Working Locations: Although his existence is disputed, he is traditionally associated with Florence and Cremona.

Summary

Nicolo Gusetto is a highly controversial figure in lutherie history, with significant doubt cast upon his actual existence by modern scholars like John Dilworth, who describes him as "presumably fictional." Despite this, earlier dictionaries by Henley, Vannes, and Stainer, along with Lütgendorff, attribute instruments and biographical details to him, suggesting he worked in Florence and Cremona between the early 18th and early 19th centuries. Descriptions of his supposed instruments detail features such as protruding corners, wide purfling, uneven top wood, high ribs, and a peculiar scroll, often noting a brown spirit varnish.