Giuseppe Fiorini

History

Giuseppe Fiorini (1861-1934) was born in Bazzano, Italy, in 1861 and died in Monaco di Baviera in 1934, according to John Dilworth's The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers. However, Cecie Stainer's A Dictionary of Violin Makers states his birth year as 1867. He was the son and pupil of Raffaele Fiorini, becoming active as a maker from 1865. After receiving a good education, he began making violins at the age of sixteen, making rapid progress, as noted by Stainer. He established his own business in Bologna from 1877 to 1888, with Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart specifying he founded his business in Bologna in 1881. From 1889 to 1896, he moved to Munich, working with his father-in-law as 'Rieger and Fiorini'. After Rieger's retirement, Fiorini continued as the sole proprietor until 1914. During the First World War, he lived in Zurich, returning to Italy in 1923. Upon his return, he moved between Rome, Florence, Turin, and Bologna, actively working to found a school of lutherie. The Italian state honored him as Cavaliere in 1927. Subsequently, he moved back to Munich. A significant event in his career occurred in 1919-1920 when he purchased the tools, forms, and other relics from the Stradivari workshop, along with the notebooks of Count Cozio de Salabue, later donating them to the Museo Civico in Cremona.

Craft

• Output: Giuseppe Fiorini is credited with producing over 500 violins, 10 violas, and 10 cellos.
• Modeling: His instruments are characterized by very refined Stradivari modeling. According to Lütgendorff, he also built instruments based on Cremonese and his own models in the Italian style.
• Workmanship: His work consistently displayed exquisite workmanship.
• Materials: He utilized very fine materials in the construction of his instruments.
• Varnish: His varnish was typically a rich, transparent orange-brown. Lütgendorff notes that he employed both a fat spirit varnish and an ethereal oil varnish.
• Branding & Labels: Instruments were sometimes branded internally with 'Giuseppe Fiorini'. Examples of his printed labels include: 'Fiorini Giuseppe / fece in Bologna anno 188.. / op 29', 'Giuseppe Fiorini / da Bologna / fece in Roma anno 1925', 'Giuseppe Fiorini / Munchen. 1895', and 'Giuseppe Fiorini / da Bologna / fece in Zurigo anno 1918'.

Influence

• Mentorship: Giuseppe Fiorini was the son and pupil of Raffaele Fiorini.
• Teaching: He was a highly influential maker and expert, with many pupils, the most significant of whom was A. Poggi.
• Educational Initiatives: He made efforts to found a school of lutherie in Italy, moving between Rome, Florence, Turin, and Bologna for this purpose after 1923.

Legacy

• Awards & Recognition: The Italian state honored him as Cavaliere in 1927. He was frequently awarded for his work, as noted by Lütgendorff. His instruments exhibited at Milan and Turin demonstrated his status as one of the best Italian makers of his time, according to Stainer.
• Professional Organizations: He was a founder member and president of the German Violin-makers' Society.
• Preservation: In 1919-1920, he purchased the tools, forms, and other relics from the Stradivari workshop, along with the notebooks of Count Cozio de Salabue, subsequently donating them to the Museo Civico in Cremona, thus preserving invaluable historical lutherie artifacts.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Giuseppe Fiorini maintained workshops and residences in several key locations throughout his career, including Bologna (1877-1888, and from 1881 for his own business), Munich (1889-1914, and later), Zurich (during the First World War), and various Italian cities such as Rome, Florence, and Turin (from 1923 onwards).
• Business Affiliations: He was the owner of the firm Rieger & Fiorini in Munich, initially working with his father-in-law Rieger from 1889 to 1896, and then continuing as sole proprietor.

Summary

Giuseppe Fiorini (1861/1867-1934) was a prominent Italian luthier, son and pupil of Raffaele Fiorini. He established workshops in Bologna, Munich (as 'Rieger and Fiorini' and later sole proprietor), Zurich, and various Italian cities, actively working to found a lutherie school in Italy. Known for his prolific output of over 500 violins, his instruments are characterized by refined Stradivari modeling, exquisite workmanship, fine materials, and a rich, transparent orange-brown varnish. An influential maker and expert, he taught A. Poggi and was honored as Cavaliere by the Italian state. His significant legacy includes the preservation and donation of Stradivari workshop relics and Count Cozio de Salabue's notebooks to the Museo Civico in Cremona.