Cesare Candi, Genova 1920

About the instrument:

Cesare Candi was born in Bologna in 1869. He was a pupil of Raffaele Fiorini alongside his brother Oreste, before moving to Genoa, around 1888, to focus on making plucked instruments including guitars, lutes and mandolins. He later changed his attention to bowed instruments, and in 1915 was appointed as curator of Paganini’s 1743 Del Gesù ‘Cannone’ violin.

Candi’s instruments are held in high rank for their delicate purfling, charming outlines and overall aesthetic qualities. All samples are made from a large beam that once supported an elegant vault of a sixteenth century church.

The violin back, length 354mm, is in two piece of quarter-sawn maple with a strong curl of medium width; the ribs, scroll and neck of similar wood. The front is of medium grain spruce which broadens towards the flanks and the varnish of a red-brown colour.