Ansaldo Poggi

Born in 1893 in Villafontana di Medicina, east of Bologna.

After studying violin playing at a music conservatory, he learned his craft from his father, an amateur violin maker.

After completing his military service, he began studying violin making in earnest under Giuseppe Fiorini (1861-1934), a friend of his father, in Zurich.

In 1923, he established his own workshop in Bologna and won many awards at exhibitions (1923, 1925, 1927, 1929, Rome competitions).

Since his teacher, Fiorini, had Stradivari's tools and belongings, Poggi also made Stradivari-style instruments with an internal frame, which was quite different from the Emilian instrument makers of the time.

Until the 1920s, he continued to produce in the style of Fiorini, but from the 1930s he began to establish his own style.

Poggi's instruments are extremely elaborate and meticulously crafted, always using high-quality wood, with perfectly placed purfling and sharply cut F-holes, so much so that their workmanship feels "cold" compared to that of their Italian contemporaries.

The instrument has been varnished with different colors depending on the year of manufacture, ranging from reddish orange to yellow-orange or pink-yellow, and the back has been stained with a color that highlights the tiger grain. The instrument has also been branded and signed in various places.

Around 1969, he took on Giancarlo Guicciardi (1940-) as his apprentice, and they continued to work together for over 10 years.

He died in Bologna in 1984 (age 91).