Lorenzo Bellafontana Genoa, 1960
Lorenzo Bellafontana, (1906 - 1979) was born in Genova, Italy, and learned violin making from Oreste Candi with prodding from his father, a passionate amateur woodworker. Before Bellafontana apprenticed with Candi from 1923 to 1924, he studied design at the Ligurian Academy of Fine Arts and violin at the Camillo Sivori Institute.
Bellafontana became an accomplished maker, opening his own shop in Pegli outside Genova in 1935, relocating to Genova a short time later, winning prizes for a violin in a 1949 Cremona competition and becoming curator of the "Cannon" Strad violin in 1967. He made violins, violas, cellos, guitars, one six-string bass and bows.
His career was beset, however, by the destruction of his workshops. All of Bellafontana's tools and materials were demolished when his first shop was bombed in 1942. He restored his workshop and began collecting tools and wood again. But the shop was bombed again in 1944. After the second bombing, Bellafontana married and focused on playing violin, performing with the Genoese Symphonic Orchestra while his luthier's career limped along with help from Candi and Giuseppe Lecchi, who commissioned instruments and bows from him. He re-dedicated himself to making instruments by around 1948, although his workshop was again wiped out in 1970, this time by a flood.
This cello includes original pegs, which were handmade in the style of Candi's workshop.
Lorenzo Bellafontana, (1906 - 1979) was born in Genova, Italy, and learned violin making from Oreste Candi with prodding from his father, a passionate amateur woodworker. Before Bellafontana apprenticed with Candi from 1923 to 1924, he studied design at the Ligurian Academy of Fine Arts and violin at the Camillo Sivori Institute.
Bellafontana became an accomplished maker, opening his own shop in Pegli outside Genova in 1935, relocating to Genova a short time later, winning prizes for a violin in a 1949 Cremona competition and becoming curator of the "Cannon" Strad violin in 1967. He made violins, violas, cellos, guitars, one six-string bass and bows.
His career was beset, however, by the destruction of his workshops. All of Bellafontana's tools and materials were demolished when his first shop was bombed in 1942. He restored his workshop and began collecting tools and wood again. But the shop was bombed again in 1944. After the second bombing, Bellafontana married and focused on playing violin, performing with the Genoese Symphonic Orchestra while his luthier's career limped along with help from Candi and Giuseppe Lecchi, who commissioned instruments and bows from him. He re-dedicated himself to making instruments by around 1948, although his workshop was again wiped out in 1970, this time by a flood.
This cello includes original pegs, which were handmade in the style of Candi's workshop.