Giuseppe Bernardo Lecchi

Giuseppe Bernardo Lecchi (b. Felizzano August 20 1895– d. Genoa August 24 1967) was an Italian violin maker.

Originally from a Piedmontese village near Alessandria, Lecchi showed great talent for woodworking at a young age. In 1924, he took over De Barbieri’s place in Cesare Candi’s workshop. [cite book | last=Blot | first=Eric | chapter=Liguria III | title=Un secolo di liuteria italiana, 1860-1960 - A century of Italian violin making | location=Cremona | publisher=Turris | year=1994 | isbn=8879291254]

Lecchi proved to be an ideal partner for Candi and made a considerable contribution to his last series of decorated instruments, taking charge of the delicate inlays.

By 1937, Lecchi was at his peak winning first prize for a quartet at the Stradivari bicentennial exhibition in Cremona. "His was a more ‘classical’ taste than that of all the other Genoese makers, and his way of making the Stradivari model was elegant and well balanced." [ [http://www.giordanoviolins.com/english/articles/genoeseline.html Alberto Giordano&C. - Fine violins, violas and cellos in Genoa] , from www.giordanoviolins.com]

Most of his violins don’t bear the sharp edges and consistent archings of modern Genoese instruments. Lecchi used Candi’s continuous lining technique only in his early period; soon after he began making the interiors in the traditional way, with the central linings mortised or simply set into the centre-blocks. [ [http://www.giordanoviolins.com/english/articles/genoeseline.html Alberto Giordano&C. - Fine violins, violas and cellos in Genoa] , from www.giordanoviolins.com]

Notes

References

*cite book | last=Blot | first=Eric | chapter=Liguria III | title=Un secolo di liuteria italiana, 1860-1960 - A century of Italian violin making | location=Cremona | publisher=Turris | year=1994 | isbn=8879291254

Further reading

*La Liuteria Italiana / Italian Violin Making in the 1800s and 1900s - Umberto Azzolina
*I Maestri Del Novicento - Carlo Vettori
*La Liuteria Lombarda del '900 - Roberto Codazzi, Cinzia Manfredini 2002
*Dictionary of 20th Century Italian Violin Makers - Marlin Brinser 1978
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External links

* [http://www.giordanoviolins.com/english/articles/genoeseline.html Alberto Giordano&C. - Fine violins, violas and cellos in Genoa] , from www.giordanoviolins.com
* [http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/italiane/misc/lecchi.html Giuseppe Bernardo Lecchi] at www.fetishguitars.com.

View a fine example of Giuseppe Bernardo Lecchi violin Genoa circa 1937 close-up:

[http://www.giordanoviolins.com/img/glasscase/lecchi937-fronte.jpgGiuseppe Bernardo Lecchi violin - 1937 top]

[http://www.giordanoviolins.com/img/glasscase/lecchi937-back.jpgGiuseppe Bernardo Lecchi violin - 1937 back]

[http://www.giordanoviolins.com/img/glasscase/lecchi937-testa1.jpgGiuseppe Bernardo Lecchi violin - 1937 scroll front]

[http://www.giordanoviolins.com/img/glasscase/lecchi937-testa2.jpgGiuseppe Bernardo Lecchi violin - 1937 scroll back]

[http://www.giordanoviolins.com/img/glasscase/lecchi937-testa3.jpgGiuseppe Bernardo Lecchi violin - 1937 scroll right]