A luthier is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments.
Silvio de Lellis, recorded as Sylvio de Lellis in Canadian sources was an Italian luthier.
Roberto Regazzi is a notable contemporary violin maker and scholar who received his initiation in the craft from Otello Bignami. Regazzi lives and works in Bologna.
Enrico Rocca was an Italian violin maker of the 19th and the 20th Centuries and son of Giuseppe Rocca.
Igino (Iginius) Sderci was a violin maker who studied under master maker Leandro Bisiach. Making more than 700 instruments including many large violas, he won gold medals at the prestigious Stradivarius Exhibition at Cremona in 1937 marking the bicentenary of Stradivari's death.
Otello Bignami was an Italian violin maker from Bologna.
Carlo Bisiach (1892–1968) was a violin maker born in Milan, Italy. Bisiach's work contributed to the rebirth of violin making in the region after the difficult times of World War I and World War II. After working with his father Leandro in Milan and then Siena, Carlo established himself at Florence in 1922. The most talented of Leandro's sons, Carlo went on to develop his own style quite separate from the Antoniazzi-derived work of his father and brothers.
Gaetano Sgarabotto (1878–1959) and his son, Pietro Sgarabotto (1903–1990) were Italian luthier. The father made more than 700 violins, violas and cellos. The son was also a master violin maker. Both passed their experience in the craft to the next generations.
Giuseppe Fiorini (1861–1934) was an Italian luthier and is considered one of the most important Italian violin makers. He built his first instrument at the age of 16 while working in Bologna. He established Rieger and Fiorini in Germany from 1888, then lived in Zurich during World War 1 and Rome from 1923.
Gaetano Pollastri (1886–1960) was a professional violinist but after the first world war he devoted himself to violin making. He worked with the same company as his brother in via Castiglione, that was devoted to the construction, repair and commerce of string instruments. In 1927 he received the Certificate of Honour at the contemporary violin making exhibition-competition in Cremona. When Augusto died in 1927, he took over his brother's company. In the following twenty years Gaetano constructed numerous instruments of which, in 1930, a violin with papal coat of arms that he personally donated to Pope Pious XI. He also restored precious violins; among them, a Stradivari and a Guarneri of Guglielmo Marconi brother's property, Alfonso. He won the Certificate of Honour in Cremona in 1949. In 1954 he showed two violins at the 2nd National Competition of Contemporary violin making in Rome, obtaining a Certificate of Honour, and was present with his instruments at the Ascoli Piceno ('54) and Pegli ('56) competitions. He worked very hard to promote his profession and was a founding associate of the ANLAI. His students include Cesare Pollastri, Franco Albanelli and Otello Bignami.
Giovanni Francesco Pressenda was an Italian violin maker.
Franco Albanelli was an Italian luthier, a pupil of Gaetano Pollastri, who was born in Castel San Pietro Terme, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Raffaele Fiorini was an influential Italian violin maker.
Garimberti, Ferdinando (6 January 1894 – 26 March 1982) was an Italian violin maker.
Giuseppe Bernardo Lecchi was an Italian violin maker.
Augusto Pollastri was an Italian violin maker, older brother to Gaetano Pollastri. Started his career as an apprentice in Raffaele Fiorini's studio. Augusto's father was a miller and an amateur musician. Augusto was exposed to music early on, he also enjoyed visiting the shop of a famous violin maker Raffaele Fiorini, where he started to perform small services in the shop, which led to an apprenticeship with maestro Fiorini.
Oreste Candi was an Italian luthier.
Traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2012, during the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Committee in Paris. The Cremona's traditional violin making is an ancient form of handicraft typical of Cremona, where bowed string instruments like violins, violas, cellos and double basses have been made since the 16th century.
The Violin Museum, formerly the Stradivarius Museum, is a musical instrument museum located in Cremona. The museum is best known for its collection of stringed instruments that includes violins, violas, cellos, and double basses crafted by renowned luthiers, including Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù.
