Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1760
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi
The Violin
Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi made this Landolfi violin in Milan around 1760. It is a stunningly fine and fresh example of his work. The Guadagnini influence that shaped his instruments shows clearly in it.
Well-preserved Milanese violins of this period grow harder to find every year. That makes this example especially notable. This Landolfi violin has a back length of 35.6 cm.
The word fresh carries real weight with an instrument of this age. It means the original character of the wood, the varnish and the workmanship is still clearly visible. Experts and serious collectors look for exactly that.
So this Landolfi violin suits a collector or a professional who values historical importance, originality and documented provenance. First, the freshness is unusual. Second, the Beare certificate settles the attribution. Together they make it a secure and rewarding instrument to own, whether for performance or for a collection.
The Maker
Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi lived from about 1710 to 1784, and he does not appear to have taken up violin making until the middle of the century. One likely reason for that late start is the arrival of G.B. Guadagnini in Milan in 1749, since Guadagnini is the obvious inspiration for his work.
In general his instruments have more in common with Guadagnini’s models than with those of his Milanese predecessors Grancino and Testore.
In the last twenty-five years of his career his son Pietro Antonio worked alongside him, as did his best pupil, Pietro Giovanni Mantegazza. So a Landolfi violin is a prized example of 18th-century Milanese making, and his close link to Guadagnini adds to the appeal.
Certification
J and A Beare certified this instrument in December 2006.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.