Giuseppe Ornati

Born in Albairate, Milan in 1885.

His father, Carlo, was an amateur instrument maker.
From 1901 he studied under Carlo Moneta (1881-1953) in Milan, and from 1903 he began working under Leandro Bisiach (1864-1946).
During the same period, Gaetano Sgarabotto (1878-1960), Georg Ullmann (1879-1946), and Ferdinando Garimberti (1894-1982) also worked in the Bijacchi workshop.
In 1920 he went independent in Milan, but continued to work with the Bijacchi workshop, taking on commissions and occasionally training Leandro's sons.
From 1961 to 1963 he taught at the Cremona Violin Making School and was also the instrument maker in residence at La Scala.

He won gold medals at the Rome Instrument Making Competition in 1920 and 1923, and at the Milan Instrument Making Competition in 1924.
These instruments are traditional yet incorporate the musician's own essence, and their elegant and advanced techniques can be seen in their unique and beautiful purfling.
In addition to violins, he also produced many other plucked string instruments (lutes, guitars, mandolins, etc.).
The varnish was a beautiful golden yellow or reddish brown and was made using both alcohol and oil varnish.
Some instruments have branding or signatures left inside.

He died in Milan in 1965 (at the age of 80).

Quote: "The Brompton's Book of Violin and Bow Makers" / "Liuteria Italiana 1860-1960 II"