An early violin by Marino Capicchioni, made in 1927, two years before he established himself in Rimini. Instruments from this period are rare and they show the young Capicchioni already thinking independently. The modelling is broad and personal rather than copied, and the golden brown varnish laid over a warm ground that has taken on real depth with age.
The sound is bright and open. These are characteristics that really made his reputation. It is full-bodied through the middle and lower registers and the upper register carries very naturally. Response is immediate and the instrument fills a room easily. Very soloistic instrument.
Certifcate from J&A Beare. Documentation available to qualified buyers.
Marino Capicchioni (1895–1977) is widely regarded as one of the finest Italian violin makers of the twentieth century. Born in the Republic of San Marino, he was essentially self-taught, arriving at his craft through study of classical Cremonese instruments rather than through the workshop of an established master. He settled in Rimini around 1929, and from there built an international reputation that placed him alongside the very best makers of his generation. Recognition came at the major Italian competitions of the 1930s, and by mid-century his instruments were being taken up by professional soloists across Europe. His mature work draws freely on Stradivari and on Guarneri del Gesù, always reinterpreted rather than imitated, and is marked by bold modelling, rich varnish and a sound of exceptional warmth and carrying power. Today his violins are among the most sought after of any twentieth century Italian maker, and early examples are seldom seen on the market.
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