Carlo Storioni

History

Carlo Storioni is a name associated with violin making, though sources contain conflicting information regarding his existence. According to Karel Jalovec 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.

Craft

• 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.

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".

Summary

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.