Giuseppe And Carlo (Fratelli) Fiscer

Milan, worked 1750–1780

Giuseppe And Carlo (Fratelli) Fiscer were brothers who worked as instrument makers in Milan, Italy, from approximately 1750 to 1780.

Worked Milan

Maker Overview

Life

Giuseppe And Carlo (Fratelli) Fiscer (circa. 1750-1780) worked in Milan, Italy, during the period of approximately 1750 to 1780.

Characteristics

Models: Their instruments followed Amati or Staineresque models.
Scrolls: The scrolls on their instruments are described as rather crude.
Varnish: John Dilworth notes a light golden-brown varnish, while Cecie Stainer describes it as a yellow-red colour and very satisfactory for its date. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also mentions a red or reddish-yellow varnish.
Workmanship: Cecie Stainer refers to a "well-made violin" by the brothers.

Recorded labels

Label cited by Vidal: Giuseppe Carlo fratelli Fiscer
fabricatori di strumenti in Milano
Vicino Alla Balla, 1764John Dilworth
Label of Carlo working alone: Carlo Vincenzo Fiscer
fabbricator d’istrumenti
Alla Balla in Milano anno 1770John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

National Style: Their work is noted by Cecie Stainer as resembling that of German makers more than Italian makers.
Possible Lineage: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff suggests they might have been members of the Ficker family, indicating a potential German luthier tradition.
Museum Collections: A mandolin dated 1763 by the Fiscer brothers is part of the Cherubini collection in Florence.
Private Collections: A mandolin by Carlo Vincenzo Fiscer, working alone, was reportedly in the possession of a dealer in Munich.

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Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

FISCER FRATELLI, Giuseppe & Carlo Worked circa. 1750-1780 Milan Italy. Assumed to be of German origin. Primarily makers of plucked instruments, but violins are recorded. Amati or Staineresque models; scrolls rather crude. Light golden-brown varnish. Some cellos reported. The Cherubini collection, Florence has a mandolin dated 1763. Label cited by Vidal: Giuseppe Carlo fratelli Fiscer / fabricatori di strumenti in Milano / Vicino Alla Balla, 1764 Label of Carlo working alone: Carlo Vincenzo Fiscer / fabbricator d’istrumenti / Alla Balla in Milano anno 1770

Cecie Stainer+

Two brothers working in Milan together about 1760-64. Their work resembles more that of German than Italian makers, but their varnish is better ; it is a yellow-red colour and, for that date, very satisfactory. In a well-made violin is the label: “Giuseppe Carlo fratelli Fiscer, fabbricatori d’instrumenti in Milano, vicino alia balla, 1764.”

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Vermuthlich zwei Deutsche Namens Fischer, oder, wenn de Piccolellis, der Ficher liest, Recht hat, dann konnte man die Brüder für Mitglieder der Familie Ficker halten. Ausser dem Namen spricht auch die Arbeit für die deutsche Herkunft. Ihre Geigen sind recht gut: auch der rothe oder rothgelbe Lack ist schon zu nennen.

Fiscer, Carlo Vincenzo. — Mailand. 1770.
Vermuthlich einer der beiden Brüder Fiscer, der 1770 mit der gleichen Adresse
allein arbeitend vorkommt. In München besitzt ein Händler eine Mandoline von ihm mit dem Zettel:

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