David Kerr Violin Shop, Inc
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Picture
Francesco Guadagnini Turin, 1899
       
Francesco Guadagnini (1863 - 1948) took over his family's workshop at age 18, when his father and teacher, Antonio, died. Francesco initially focused on dealing instruments with help from his mother and, later, turned to making instruments along with his brother, Giuseppe.

Francesco either won medals or exhibited instruments in Turin 1884, Antwerp 1885, Vienna 1892, Turin 1911, and Rome 1916.

Francesco spent most of his career in Turin, although he briefly worked in Rome 1895 to 1897. After his shop was bombed in 1942, Francesco moved to another Turin address and stayed there until his death in 1948.

Francesco's instruments varied widely in quality, reflecting a broad range of sales prices. His best period is considered to span 1905 to 1910, when he perhaps was inspired by competition from other Turin makers, such as Oddone, Fagnola, and Guerra.

Instruments from his peak often featured two layers of varnish. The first layer was hard, resistant, and yellow-orange. The second was smooth, reddish-pink, and not entirely transparent.

Instruments from Francesco's later period probably were made in part by his employees or collaborators, including Guerra. These instruments were technically sound, but offered less personality with flatter edges, wider corners, and a hard, brittle, reddish varnish.



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