Giovanni Grancino

Giovanni Grancino (1637-1709), son of Andrea Grancino, was one of the early Milanese luthiers, and may have worked with brother, Francesco. [cite web|url=http://www.bartruff.com|title=The History of the Violin|first=William|last=Bartruff|date=2006|accessdate=2006-11-01]

Grancino's workshops were all located on "Contrada Larga", now "Via Larga" in Milan. His instruments all bear the characteristic "il segno della corona" (mark of the crown). [cite web|url=http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:kuBkdiOgr0cJ:www.toshiba-europe.com/medical/Materials/Visions/Kulik.pdf+Giovanni+Grancino&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=22|title=Journey into the year 1710, a Grancino Cello reveals its secrets|first=Alexander |last=Kulik|date=2001|accessdate=2006-11-01]

Although the luthiers of Milan created instruments of varying quality, Grancino's violins, violas and cellos were considered superior. Grancino used a varnish which was a finely textured clear yellow to pale brown color.

Grancino's early instrument patterns and designs were influenced by Niccolò Amati, whose impressive works influenced many Italian luthiers of the period. However, Grancino's later efforts show the flatter arching and narrower influence of Stradivari. Grancino's cellos tend to be larger, yet with a clear sound indicative of the Italian luthiers. [cite web|url=http://www.cello.org/heaven/masters/italian.htm|title=Famous Early Italian Makers of Cellos|last=Cello Heaven|date=2006|accessdate=2006-11-01]

Grancino's was succeeded by members of the Testore family, with the eldest, Carlo Giuseppe Testore, fabricating a violin for Grancino, now housed in the National Music Museum on the campus of the University of South Dakota. [cite web|url=http://www.usd.edu/smm/bowstg.html#3353|title=Bowed Stringed Instruments Made Before 1800 at the National Music Museum|last=University of South Dakota|date=2006|accessdate=2006-11-01]

References

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*Walter Hamma, "Meister Italienischer Geigenbaukunst", Wilhelmshaven 1993, ISBN 3-7959-0537-0