Giuseppe Fiorini

Giuseppe Fiorini (1861-1934)

The Bolognese maker Giuseppe Fiorini, one of the most important Italian luthiers between the late 19th and early 20th century, is known today for the excellent quality of his instruments and for being one of the leading experts in violin making of his own time.
In 1920 he obtained from marquise Paola della Valle, heiress of count Cozio di Salabue, all the remaining items from Antonio Stradivari’s workshop.
Fiorini took the decision to buy the Stradivari artefacts while he was visiting the Industrial Exhibition of Milan in 1881. On that occasion, the Cozio-della Valle collection was displayed in the musical instruments section and in the exhibition catalogue it was entered under “Museo di Antonio Stradivari”.
After ten years, in 1930, the Bolognese maker donated the whole collection to the city of Cremona, with the hope that this would contribute to the establishment of a violin making school: this came true in 1938, unfortunately after his death.