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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, circa 1890
Violin by Carlo Storioni. Sold by Amati — from the archive.

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 2448GardinerJanuary 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.January 2010£300
Violin35.6 cm Germany, 1893 c.January 2010£480
Violin35.6 cm Germany, 1894January 2009£1,200
Violin35.8 cm 1891 c.January 2009£960
Violin37.5 cmJanuary 2008£1,080
Violin35.6 cmJanuary 2007£588
Violin35.8 cmJanuary 2006£1,025
Violin1889January 2001£1,208
Violin1890January 2001£1,035
Violin1897January 1998£920
Viola41.0 cm 1890January 1997£1,000
Violin1910 c.January 1996£1,150
Violin1911January 1995£805
Violin1908January 1995£1,380
Violin1890January 1995£1,092
Violin1895January 1993£1,870
Violin1890 c.January 1993£715
Violin1903January 1993£660
Violin1920 c.January 1992£462
Violin1901January 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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