Cremonese violin making

“Five hundred years of history and tradition can be experienced in its workshops”

Cremona, Original Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona
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Cremonese luthiery, the art of making bowed and plucked stringed instruments, began in the mid-16th century and soon attracted attention on the international scene, thanks to the work of Andrea Amati and his disciples. The quality of the instruments made by Cremonese luthiers gradually declined from the end of the 18th century, but the foundations for a revival were laid in the 20th century

Rifinitura, Original Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona
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Instruments with the “Cremona Liuteria” trademark, made exclusively by hand from spruce, maple, ebony, willow, poplar, rosewood, mahogany, cedar or other traditional wood species...

RifinituraOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

...express the originality and personality of the master luthier, while respecting the typical production techniques and developments of the Cremonese violin-making tradition.

It takes about one hundred and twenty hours of work to make a violin. 

MisurazioneOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

[Measurement of the thickness of the soundboard]

RifinituraOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

Creating an instrument is not just a question of applying technical knowledge and years of experience, but of imbuing it with the soul of its maker.

The talent of these woodcraft artists consists in providing a sound with a body. The perfect sound finds its greatest expression through the right choice of materials and the design of the shape and curves.

TaglioOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

[The incision phase of the "F"]

VerniciaturaOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

[Painting the curl]

VerniciaturaOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

[Painting the soundboard]

Stradivari_fronteOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

[Stradivari 1715 - "Il Cremonese"]

OrchestraOriginal Source: Consorzio Liutai “Antonio Stradivari” Cremona

Cremonese violin making represents “excellence” in artistic craftsmanship.

UNESCO has recognised it as part of humanity’s intangible heritage and it was showcased at Expo 2010 in Shanghai as an example of Italian expertise.

Credits: Story

Curator—







Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato e Agricoltura di Cremona 

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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