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Reference Library Biographies

Glass, Fritz

The son of Gustav Glass, served his apprenticeship with his father.

Glass, Gustav

Son of Heinrich Glass from whom he learned his trade.

Gobetti, Francesco

Pupil of Gofriller, a very skilful and versatile maker. His work is relatively rare, and was probably frequently carried out for other masters. Some inferior Stainer-modelled instruments also ascribed to him.

Gofriller, Matteo

Born in the south Tyrol, he arrived in Venice in 1658, probably already with some training as a violin maker. Worked in Venice for Martin Kaiser, a luthier of northern Tyrolean origin before taking over his business in 1690.

Gragnani, Antonio

Probably trained in Florence - some Carcassi instruments show signs of his workmanship- he worked in Livorno in a very neatly crafted and stylised manner.

Grancino, Giovanni

The founder of the Milanese school, an important early rival to nearby Cremona. The first instruments were jointly labelled 'Francesco and Giovanni de Grancinis'.

Grimm, Karl

Bows branded 'Grimm' in small letters, Roda mentions that Heinrich Knopf is said to have made bows for him.

Guadagnini, Gaetano The Second

Eldest son and assistant of Giovanni Baptista, his work is undistinguished and rare.

Guadagnini, Giovanni Battista

Traditionally spoken of as a pupil of his father, Lorenzo, or Antonio Stradivari, both these ideas have been discredited by modern research. In all probability largely self-taught, his earliest work dates from Piacenza in the early 1740s.

Guadagnini, Giuseppe Il Soldato

The son and assistant of Giovanni Baptista, he worked in various towns, including Como, Milan and Pavia. His work is coarsely finished and lacks the best varnish of his father, but excellent in conception and tonal quality.

Guarneri, Andrea

The founder of the Guarneri dynasty and principal assistant of Nicolo Amati from 1641 to 1654. His own labelled work, dating from around 1640, is true to the principles of Amati's shop, but less well-finished.

Guarneri, Giuseppe Del Gesu

Younger son and pupil of Giuseppe ‘filius Andreae’, and the most celebrated maker of the family. Broke with his father around 1720, and produced little until after 1726, when he began to make his way back into the profession.

Guarneri, Giuseppe Filius Andreae

Younger son and pupil of Andrea, as indicated by the suffix 'filius Andreae' which appears on his label and distinguishes him from his son, also named Giuseppe. His work developed gradually along Stradivarian lines, using a particularly rich varnish.

Guarneri, Peter Of Mantua

The elder son and pupil of Andrea. Moved to Mantua around 1680, to an appointment as a court musician. Continued making violins, although less prolifically than other members of the family, and developed a distinctive and attractive model

Guarneri, Pietro Of Venice

Elder son and pupil of Giuseppe 'filius Andreae', moved to Venice in about 1717. Worked there initially at the shop of the guitar maker Matteo Sellas. His own labelled work began to appear after 1730, and thereafter became an influential figure in the cit

Guidantus, Joannes Florenus

Commonly referred to as Fiorino or Floriano after his father, who was recorded as the repairer of instruments at the Academia Filarmonica of Bologna.

Guillami, Juan

A contemporary of Contreras in Spain, his work does not have such a high reputation although beautifully executed and varnished.

Guinot, Claude Nicolas

A bow maker who served his apprenticeship with Jacquot.

Guinot, Jean

Son of Claude Nicolas from whom he learned his craft.

Gunther, Franz

Franz Gunther was apprenticed in Leipzig to Ludwig Bausch, subsequently working in several German cities, even working from Italy for a period before eventually settling in Zurich.

Guth, August

Apprenticed under Ludwig Bausch, working later for Grimm in Berlin. Later worked from Antwerp.

Gutter, Fritz

Learned bow making under Richard Pfretzschner, subsequently working for Albert Nurnberger. In 1919 he set up his own shop.

Gutter, Wilhelm Ernst

B. 1840, d. 1897 Markneukirchen

Hammig, Wilhelm Hermann

Part of a larger family of violin makers, Hammig worked for Grimm in Berlin before establishing his own shop in Markneukirchen. In 1875 he moved to Leipzig, before moving his shop to Berlin, which was run by his son Hermann.