Giuseppe Fiorini

Name: Giuseppe Fiorini auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Bazzano, Bologna, Munich, Zurich, 1861–1934

Giuseppe Fiorini (1861/1867-1934) was a prominent Italian luthier, son and pupil of Raffaele Fiorini. He established workshops in Bologna, Munich (as 'Rieger and Fiorini' and later sole proprietor), Zurich, and various Italian cities, actively working to found a lutherie school in Italy. Known for his prolific output of over 500 violins, his instruments are characterized by refined Stradivari modeling, exquisite workmanship, fine materials, and a rich, transparent orange-brown varnish. An influential maker and expert, he taught A. Poggi and was honored as Cavaliere by the Italian state. His significant legacy includes the preservation and donation of Stradivari workshop relics and Count Cozio de Salabue's notebooks to the Museo Civico in Cremona.

Worked Bazzano, Bologna, Munich, Zurich

Made Cello, Violin

Taught by Raffaele

Family Son of Raffaele

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£72,000

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	35.6 cm Zurich, 1919	October 2011	£60,000
Violin	35.9 cm Munich, 1897	March 2011	£72,000
Violin	35.9 cm Zurich, 1916	March 2008	£29,250
Violin	35.9 cm [Ascribed to the workshop of]	October 2007	£9,707
Violin	35.9 cm Bologna, 1879	July 2006	£36,000
Violin	35.5 cm Zurich, 1922	May 2006	£29,126
Violin	[Labelled]	May 2005	£26,400
Violin	1923	November 2002	£15,275
Violin	1908	May 2002	£40,439
Violin	1908	May 2002	£18,783
Violin	1922	March 2001	£32,700
Violin	1892	November 1999	£25,300
Violin	1921	June 1996	£23,000
Violin	1924	June 1995	£2,415
Violin	1924	March 1995	£21,850
Violin	1895	May 1994	£3,339
Violin	1920	November 1992	£23,265
Violin	1908	March 1992	£17,600
Violin	1923	November 1991	£7,700
Violin	1915	April 1987	£9,900
Violin	1910	April 1987	£9,900
Violin	1915	November 1986	£6,820
Violin	1886	May 1986	£5,500
Violin	1912	March 1986	£8,800
Violin	1910	July 1985	£6,380
Cello	1933	April 1982	£5,060
Violin	1924	January 1981	£2,444
Violin	1923	November 1980	£1,320

Maker Overview

Life

Giuseppe Fiorini (1861-1934) was born in Bazzano, Italy, in 1861 and died in Monaco di Baviera in 1934 The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers. However, Cecie Stainer's A Dictionary of Violin Makers states his birth year as 1867. He was the son and pupil of Raffaele Fiorini, becoming active as a maker from 1865. After receiving a good education, he began making violins at the age of sixteen, making rapid progress. He established his own business in Bologna from 1877 to 1888, with Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart specifying he founded his business in Bologna in 1881. From 1889 to 1896, he moved to Munich, working with his father-in-law as 'Rieger and Fiorini'. After Rieger's retirement, Fiorini continued as the sole proprietor until 1914. During the First World War, he lived in Zurich, returning to Italy in 1923. Upon his return, he moved between Rome, Florence, Turin, and Bologna, actively working to found a school of lutherie. The Italian state honored him as Cavaliere in 1927. Subsequently, he moved back to Munich. A significant event in his career occurred in 1919-1920 when he purchased the tools, forms, and other relics from the Stradivari workshop, along with the notebooks of Count Cozio de Salabue, later donating them to the Museo Civico in Cremona.

Characteristics

Output: Giuseppe Fiorini is credited with producing over 500 violins, 10 violas, and 10 cellos.
Modeling: His instruments are characterized by very refined Stradivari modeling., he also built instruments based on Cremonese and his own models in the Italian style.
Workmanship: His work consistently displayed exquisite workmanship.
Materials: He utilized very fine materials in the construction of his instruments.
Varnish: His varnish was typically a rich, transparent orange-brown. Lütgendorff notes that he employed both a fat spirit varnish and an ethereal oil varnish.
Branding & Labels: Instruments were sometimes branded internally with 'Giuseppe Fiorini'. Examples of his printed labels include: 'Fiorini Giuseppe / fece in Bologna anno 188.. / op 29', 'Giuseppe Fiorini / da Bologna / fece in Roma anno 1925', 'Giuseppe Fiorini / Munchen. 1895', and 'Giuseppe Fiorini / da Bologna / fece in Zurigo anno 1918'.

Recorded labels

Fiorini Giuseppe
fece in Bologna anno 188..
op 29 Giuseppe Fiorini
da Bologna
fece in Roma anno 1925John Dilworth
Giuseppe Fiorini
Munchen. 1895John Dilworth
Giuseppe Fiorini
da Bologna
fece in Zurigo anno 1918John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Mentorship: Giuseppe Fiorini was the son and pupil of Raffaele Fiorini.
Teaching: He was a highly influential maker and expert, with many pupils, the most significant of whom was A. Poggi.
Educational Initiatives: He made efforts to found a school of lutherie in Italy, moving between Rome, Florence, Turin, and Bologna for this purpose after 1923.
Awards & Recognition: The Italian state honored him as Cavaliere in 1927. He was frequently awarded for his work. His instruments exhibited at Milan and Turin demonstrated his status as one of the best Italian makers of his time.
Professional Organizations: He was a founder member and president of the German Violin-makers' Society.
Preservation: In 1919-1920, he purchased the tools, forms, and other relics from the Stradivari workshop, along with the notebooks of Count Cozio de Salabue, subsequently donating them to the Museo Civico in Cremona, thus preserving invaluable historical lutherie artifacts.

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Biographies

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

John Dilworth+

FIORINI, Giuseppe Born 1861 Bazzano, died 1934 Monaco di Baviera Italy. Son and pupil of Raffaele, below. Active from 1865. Established in Bologna 1877-1888. Moved to Munich, working with his father-in-law as ‘Rieger and Fiorini’ from 1889 to 1896 when Rieger retired. Continued as sole proprietor until 1914. Lived in Zurich during the First World War, returning to Italy 1923, moving from Rome to Florence, Turin, and Bologna in efforts to found a school of lutherie. The Italian state honoured him as Cavaliere in 1927. Subsequently moved to Munich. Highly influential maker and expert, with many pupils, most significant of whom was A. Poggi. Founder member and president of the German Violin-makers’ Society. In 1919-1920 he purchased the tools, forms, and other relics from the Stradivari workshop, along with the notebooks of Count Cozio de Salabue, later donating them to the Museo Civico in Cremona. Credited with over 500 violins, 10 violas, and 10 cellos. All of very refined Stradivari modelling, exquisite workmanship, and very fine materials. Varnish of rich transparent orange-brown. Sometimes branded internally: ‘Giuseppe Fiorini’. Printed labels: Fiorini Giuseppe / fece in Bologna anno 188.. / op 29 Giuseppe Fiorini / da Bologna / fece in Roma anno 1925 Giuseppe Fiorini / Munchen. 1895 Giuseppe Fiorini / da Bologna / fece in Zurigo anno 1918 [Blot I]

Cecie Stainer+

Son of Raffaele Fiorini, b. 1867. He early showed signs of having inherited his father’s tastes, and when sixteen (after having received a good education) commenced making violins. He made rapid progress, and the instruments which he exhibited at Milan and Turin show that he is one of the best Italian makers of the present time.

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Von 1877 an Schüler seines Vaters Raffaele F., gründete schon 1881 in
Bologna sein eigenes Geschäft, wurde dann der Schwiegersohn Andr. Rieger’s
in München und ist jetzt Eigenthümer der Firma Rieger & Fiorini. Er baut
nach Cremoneser und eigenen Modellen in italienischem Stil und verwendet
sowohl einen fetten Spiritus- als auch einen ätherischen Öllack. Er ist ein tüchtiger Meister und vielfach ausgezeichnet.

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