Description
A fine Italian violin by Carlo Antonio Testore, circa 1750-60
This is a particularly striking example of Carlo Antonio Testore’s work. It comes from an exciting period towards the end of his career when both Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi and Giovanni Baptista Guadagnini had arrived in Milan, with an inevitable competition and sharing of ideas. The violin is irrepressibly Testore work with very typical flat edgework, and a flattish middle to the arching. However, the instrument superficially strays towards a strong resemblance to Landolfi’s work especially in respect of sound holes that resemble the pattern that Landolfi adopted from about 1750. The shared whimsical flow to these is also found in some works of Guadagnini, though he maintained personal elements that make the similarities less overt. I have inserted a photograph below to show this violin compared to a Landolfi that I recently sold, illustrating the superficial likeness. Milanese violins tend to use relatively plain maple, but the one-piece back is spectacularly flamed and of the standard that one expects to see on Guadagnini’s violins during this period. The scroll, though to Testore’s outline shows unusual care in carving the volutes providing another indication that Testore was stepping up to the competition of his newly arrived colleagues in Milan. Most instruments by the Testore family have painted purfling which may at times be repurfled later. In this case it was purfled by the maker from new, and likewise the back of the scroll which would often be left uncarved is completed.
It is difficult to know what was happening in mid-eighteenth century Milan. In nearby Cremona the Golden Period of violin making had come to an end in 1747 with the death of Carlo Bergonzi, and perhaps the Milanese makers perceived new opportunities as a result. As with many Milanese instruments that take a flatter arching, comparisons in the direction of Guarneri del Gesù are valid in terms of tonal production, and the economical Testore arching results in a very strong long-arch which always produces enviable tonal quality. This is a beautiful violin and from a playing perspective the epitome of everything that a musician is looking for in terms of classic Italian sound and excellent responsiveness. It’s a bit of a dream!
Condition notes: The instrument is in an overall good state of preservation. An old repair to the button area has slightly altered the outline near the neck, bu this is of cosmetic concern only.
CONTACT US
If you are interested in this instrument please email us here:
Your message has been sent
