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Carlo Storioni

Carlo Storioni is a name associated with violin making, though its authenticity is debated among historians. While some sources describe a maker active in Cremona around 1888, building instruments on the Stradivari pattern with broad scrolls and powerful tone, others assert that "Carlo Storioni" was a fictitious name used for mass-produced factory instruments.

Made Viola, Violin
Violin, Workshop of Carlo Storioni, 1901 — front
360°
Violin, Workshop of Carlo Storioni, 1901. Sold by Amati. Measurements and detail photographs →

Instruments

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£3,960

28 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
ViolinTwo-piece back of faint medium curl, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 2448GardinerSeptember 2024£878est. £ 800-1,200
Violinno serious issues evident Lot 2405Gardiner HoulgateJune 2023£1,464est. £ 600-900
ViolinTwo-piece back of broad curl, table of fine grain, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 2432Gardiner HoulgateJune 2023£1,074est. £ 600-800
ViolinTwo-piece back of faint medium curl, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 2437Gardiner HoulgateJune 2023£1,000est. £ 600-800
ViolinTwo-piece back of faint medium curl, table of medium grain, varnish of a reddish golden brown colour Lot 1402Gardiner HoulgateJune 2016£900est. £ 600-900
ViolinTwo-piece back of medium curl, table of fine grain, varnish of a reddish brown colour on a golden ground Lot 563Gardiner HoulgateSeptember 2013£1,200est. £ 600-900
ViolinLabelled Carlo Storioni Cremonensis faciebat 1887 Lot 248Brompton’sJune 2013£3,960est. £ 2,000-3,000
ViolinTwo-piece back of faint broad curl, table of medium width grain, varnish of a golden brown colour Lot 480Gardiner HoulgateJune 2013£840est. £ 700-1,000
Violin35.7 cm 1880 c.December 2010£300
Violin35.6 cm Germany, 1893 c.December 2010£480
Violin35.6 cm Germany, 1894December 2009£1,200
Violin35.8 cm 1891 c.October 2009£960
Violin37.5 cmMarch 2008£1,080
Violin35.6 cmMarch 2007£588
Violin35.8 cmNovember 2006£1,025
Violin1889March 2001£1,208
Violin1890March 2001£1,035
Violin1897December 1998£920
Viola41.0 cm 1890October 1997£1,000
Violin1910 c.November 1996£1,150
Violin1911December 1995£805
Violin1908November 1995£1,380
Violin1890May 1995£1,092
Violin1895November 1993£1,870
Violin1890 c.November 1993£715
Violin1903November 1993£660
Violin1920 c.September 1992£462
Violin1901June 1992£880

Maker Overview

Life

Carlo Storioni is a name associated with violin making, though sources contain conflicting information regarding his existence. in Italian Violin Makers, a Carlo Storioni was active in Cremona around 1888. However, John Dilworth, in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, states that "Carlo Storioni" is a fictitious name used on mass-produced factory instruments. Henri Poidras, in his Critical & Documentary Dictionary Of Violin Makers Old & Modern, describes him as "Der Erbe des Namens aber nicht der Kunst Lorenzo's" (The heir of the name but not the art of Lorenzo's), further suggesting a complex or perhaps non-existent personal history.


Characteristics

Pattern
Instruments bearing the name Carlo Storioni were built on the large pattern of Stradivari.
Scrolls
These instruments often featured rather broad scrolls.
Varnish
A red-brown varnish was typically applied to these instruments.
Tone
Instruments attributed to Carlo Storioni are noted for their powerful tone.
Recorded labels
  • Carlo Storioni
    Cremonensis FaciebatJohn Dilworth

Further Information

  • Period and Location: Karel Jalovec places a Carlo Storioni in Cremona around 1888.
  • Labeling: Instruments bearing this name often feature the label "Carlo Storioni / Cremonensis Faciebat".

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Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

STORIONI, Carlo Fictitious name used in mass-produced factory instruments. Carlo Storioni / Cremonensis Faciebat

Henri Poidras+

Der Erbe des Namens aber nicht der Kunst Lorenzo’s.

Karel Jalovec+

Cremona, ca 1888. Built instruments on the large pattern of Stradivari. Designed rather broad scrolls and applied red-brown varnish. Instruments of powerful tone.

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