Lutherie

My Space: Stefano Conia

By 2019-09-17T12:06:00

Screen Shot 2019-09-03 at 12.09.52

Cremona, Italy

My workshop is in Cremona’s Corso Garibaldi in the heart of the city, just a few yards from the ‘Casa Nuziale’ where Antonio Stradivari lived. I’ve been here almost since I graduated from the Cremona International Violin Making School in 1972; I worked briefly with my father before moving in here. I studied at the school under Pietro Sgarabotto, Gio Batta Morassi and Francesco Bissolotti, and ended up teaching there myself for 23 years. I retired from teaching in 1999 but still make 15 instruments per year. Putting them together in the white can take around three weeks, but since every one needs 30 coats of varnish, the whole process can take up to three months.

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