Camillo Mandelli, 1908
Camillo Mandelli (1873-1956) was born in Calco, the Lombardy region of Italy. He moved to Milan and trained as a violin maker in the shop of Leandro Bisiach and later with Riccardo & Romeo Antoniazzi before immigrating to Buenos Aires in 1889. He lived and worked in Argentina until 1920, subsequently moving back to Italy and settling in Milan for the remainder of his life.
This particular instrument was crafted by Mandelli in 1908 during his time in Buenos Aires, and is labled/branded internally Camillo Mandelli di Calco, Fece in Buenos Aires 1908. It features a spruce top, beautifully figured maple roundback with matching ribs, and a maple scroll. Varnish is original and reddish-brown in color. Fittings are ebony, with a maple bridge, chromatic C-extension, and modern Rubner tuning machines. This is a beautiful example of Mandelli's output that is punchy, loud, and a very comfortable size!