Contents

p. 5 Foreword p. 120 Raffaele Desideri p. 210 Domenico Corbucci p. 266 Antonio Fabiani
Biography Biography Biography
p. 7 Journey to the Centre of Italy
p. 122 R. Desideri Violin, 1852 p. 213 D. Corbucci Violin, 1888 p. 266 A. Fabiani Violin, 1929
p. 14 Introduction
p. 216 D. Corbucci Violin, c1885-90 p. 270 A. Fabiani Violin, 1929
p. 28 Dictionary of Violin Makers p. 126 Pietro Pallotta p. 220 D. Corbucci Violin, 1888 p. 274 A. Fabiani Cello, 1949
of the Marche and Umbria Regions Biography p. 224 D. Corbucci Violin, c1888

p. 52 Bibliography and Notes p. 126 P. Pallotta Violin, c1800 p. 278 Enrico Orselli
p. 130 P. Pallotta Violin, c1810 p. 228 Pietro Mercolini Biography
p. 134 P. Pallotta Viola, 1817 Biography
Instruments p. 278 E. Orselli Violin, 1929
p. 228 P. Mercolini Violin, 1870 p. 282 E. Orselli Violin, 1932
p. 137 Andrea Postacchini p. 286 E. Orselli Cello, 1948
p. 58 Antonio, Fabio and Biography
p. 230 Emidio Celani
Lodovico Mariani p. 138 A. Postacchini Violin, 1823 Biography
Biography p. 290 Milton Poggini
p. 142 A. Postacchini Violin, c1828 p. 232 E. Celani Violin, 1886 Biography
p. 146 A. Postacchini Violin, c1840 p. 234 E. Celani Cello, 1890
p. 64 A. Mariani Violin, 1667* p. 292 M. Poggini Violin, 1934
p. 150 A. Postacchini Violin, 1842 p. 236 E. Celani Violin, 1896
p. 68 A. Mariani Violin, c1665-70*
p. 154 A. Postacchini Cello, 1844
p. 72 A. Mariani Viola, c1670*
p. 238 Costantino Celani p. 296 Alberto Mingo
p. 158 Gaetano Mancini Biography Biography
p. 75 Antonio and Biography
p. 239 C. Celani Violin, 1899 p. 296 A. Mingo Violin, 1934
Rinaldo Ungarini p. 159 G. Mancini Violin, 1847
Biography p. 242 C. Celani Violin, 1900
p. 244 C. Celani Violin, 1929 p. 298 Lodovico Giovannetti
p. 78 A. Ungarini Viola, 1741 p. 162 Eugenio Galeazzi p. 246 C. Celani Violin, 1938 Biography
p. 82 A. Ungarini Viola, c1750 Biography
p. 84 A. Ungarini Cello, c1760 p. 298 L. Giovannetti Violin, 1950
p. 163 E. Galeazzi Violin, 1834 p. 248 Emidio Giammarini
p. 88 A. Ungarini Viola, c1760 Biography
p. 300 Cesare Castelli
p. 166 Giuseppe Baldantoni p. 248 E. Giammarini Violin, 1902
p. 92 Ferdinando and Biography Biography
Domenico De Crollis p. 170 G. Baldantoni Violin, c1825-30 p. 252 Francesco Lupi p. 302 C. Castelli Violin, 1954
Biography p. 174 G. Baldantoni Violin, 1826 Biography p. 304 C. Castelli Violin, 1965
p. 93 F. De Crollis Violin, 1783 p. 178 G. Baldantoni Violin, 1828
p. 252 F. Lupi Violin, 1902
p. 182 G. Baldantoni Violin, c1830 p. 306 Aristide Benigni
p. 186 G. Baldantoni Violin, 1871 Biography
p. 97 Giuseppe Odoardi p. 254 Alfredo Laurenti
Biography Biography p. 306 A. Benigni Violin, 1956
p. 190 Francesco Maurizi
p. 98 G. Odoardi Violin, 1784 Biography p. 254 A. Laurenti Violin, 1916 p. 308 Acknowledgments
p. 102 G. Odoardi Violin, 1785
p. 190 F. Maurizi Violin, c1840 p. 310 Subscribers
p. 106 G. Odoardi Violin, 1786 p. 194 F. Maurizi Violin, c1850 p. 256 Angelo Bruschi
Biography
p. 198 F. Maurizi Violin, c1850
p. 108 Pietro Paolo Desideri p. 258 A. Bruschi Cello, 1924
Biography p. 202 Raffaele Ronchini
p. 108 P. P. Desideri Viola, 1792
Biography p. 262 Carlo Moretti
p. 204 Violin, 1864 Biography
p. 112 P. P. Desideri Violin, 1793
p. 116 P. P. Desideri Viola, 1793 p. 208 Violin, c1891 p. 262 C. Moretti Violin, 1928
 Raffaele Desideri

Raffaele Desideri
13/8/1797 - 16/6/1871

Raffaele Desideri was born in Ripatransone (in the province of Ascoli Piceno) on 13th August 1797 to Pietro Paolo
and Loreta Mignini. He learned the art of carpentry and violin making from his father. In 1811, the census has
him living with his paternal family and the document describes him as a carpenter. He left his birthplace in the
1820s. In fact already in 1831 he is no longer counted among the male population of Ripatransone. We find
Raffaele present in Ascoli in the 1839 and subsequent censuses. He is always described in those documents as
a lathe operator. The census documents show his family situation to be complicated. Until 1845 he is described
as living alone, but from that year on, he appears to be living with other people. Specifically, in 1845, Raffaele is
registered with three females, but in 1846 he was living with only one woman (perhaps his wife, but this is not
certain). Curiously, in 1847 he appears to be living with two males under 14 years of age and two women; in Ascoli Piceno Population Record 1839, showing Raffaele Desideri tornitore.
1863, he is once again with only one woman. Our impression is that he had no children, and that the differences
in the public records are due to temporarily sharing housing with relatives or close family friends. That would
imply a rather modest standard of living which is also confirmed by Gabrielli who calls him not only a lathe
operator, but also a cabinet maker and a glazier.
It has been said that it was his father who introduced Raffaele to violin making, but according to Gabrielli, when
Raffaele moved to Ascoli Piceno, he spent time with Eugenio Galeazzi who, although about fifteen years his
junior, came from a famous musical family and had more ample cultural means. If this is true, Galeazzi could Ascoli Piceno Population Record, 1843, showing Raffaele Desideri meccanico.
have passed on to Raffaele the models and lessons he had learnt from his study of the manuals of the period.
Raffaele made stringed instruments and numerous guitars, but was also much in demand for his restoration
work, which at the time was considered to be of high quality. Like most of his customers, he came from the
agricultural world of peasants and craftsmen. According to Gabrielli, Raffaele sold his work at very low prices.
The death certificate states that Raffaele passed away on 16th June 1871 and that his wife Giuditta Crocetti
survived him. At the time of his death, he was living on Via Cornelia 656; he had lived before on via della
Vigna 844 and Contrada Ancaria 957. Gabrielli also reports a via Trivio address where he had his violin
making workshop. His death certificate states that he was a cabinet maker. [G, J, V]

Ripratransone Population Record 1811/1815, showing Raffaele Desideri. Record of the death of Raffaele Desideri.

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 Raffaele Desideri Raffaele Desideri

Violin, Ascoli Piceno 1852 When Raffaele Desideris instruments are compared to those created
by his father, Pietro Paolo, several fundamental differences can be
observed, as well as many similarities. In this example, the head is
not turned in as far as in his fathers instruments, and the back of
the scrolls volute is flatter. While this violins more S-like soundholes
are narrower in overall span, Pietro Paolos are more narrowly cut,
straighter and stiffer in appearance.
The similarities between the makers include the outline and the
construction of the corners, as well as the purfling mitres pointing
to the centre of the corner, which indicates quite clearly that this
instrument and those made by Raffaeles father come from much
the same stables.
The original label the violin bears has been modified to make the
instrument appear older. The 8 from 1852 has been changed into
a 7, so that the label now reads Ascoli 1752. Today, we know that
in 1752 neither Raffaele nor Pietro Paolo Desideri had yet been
born. The label looks perfectly original in all respects except for
the apparently modified date.

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 Raffaele Desideri Raffaele Desideri

Violin, Ascoli Piceno 1852

124 125