Modern Italian violin by Loris Lanini, 1927

As an early piece by Loris Lanini, this remarkable Italian violin testifies to the high standards and surprising sophistication that this violinist, luthier and artist achieved

Loris Lanini came from a family of craftsmen and made his first violin in his father’s carpentry workshop because he had no other access to an instrument for his violin lessons. It is not known where he ultimately pursued his formal training as a liutaio, although his work reflects the fundamental influences of the workshop and school of Valentino de Zorzi. As a highly gifted and multi-facetted creative talent, Loris Lanini established a name for himself well beyond the Tuscan region thanks to his work as a painter and sculptor; his comparatively small musical oeuvre comprised 130 violins, 8 violas and celli as well as 2 double basses. Loris Lanini’s instruments are extremely interesting discoveries in the world of modern Italian violin making, and their unusually good tonal properties along with Lanini’s exquisitely crafted personal model are compelling. Here his perfectly executed purfling demonstrate the striking precision that defined his style and is also most clearly manifest in the narrow silhouette of the body. The transparent light-brown oil varnish coats top-quality tone woods that were selected with confidence, and their outstanding resonant properties give the instrument its inimitably Italian character with a large and radiant voice that has matured over the years. This undamaged instrument kept in premium condition has been carefully set up by our expert luthiers and made ready to play; its authenticity is confirmed by Lanini’s signed original label and a certificate issued by Machold Rare Violins GmbH.