Lorenzo STORIONI

b. 1751, Cremona; d. there, 1799. Worked at 3, Contrada Coltellai. He was one of the latest, if not the last, of the celebrated makers of Cremona, and his instruments, though of great merit, show signs of decadence in the art. They are often taken for the work of Guarneri del Gesu, whose pattern he imitated with great ability. His violins are handsome in appearance, slightly arched, the wood of the belly very fine, that of the back rather plain; the varnish is very dry, of a deep yellow colour, with a reddish tinge; the tone is full, rich, and silvery ; the sound-holes are very seldom cut in two instruments alike, the work is not finished with much delicacy ; the narrow purfling is roughly done, and the scroll has not much finish. His violins are highly thought of in Italy, and are rising in value; for many years Vieuxtemps played on a very beautiful one. He did not begin to sign them till 1776, and none are known after 1795. No tenors are known, but his violoncellos, which are rare, have a powerful tone. Labels: " Laurentius Storioni fecit Cremonae, 1789," and "Laurentius Storioni restauravit Cremona, 1780.'