Carlo Bisiach

The son and student of Leandro Bisiach,[1] descendant of the Cremonese school, he began studying the art of stringed-instrument making in the early years of his life.

In 1906, at the age of 14, he along with his older brother Andrea (two years his senior), traveled to Mirecourt to study violin making with Leon Mougenot.

Then spent close to a year in Germany until WWI, where he acquired a wealth of knowledge in restoration techniques and expertise in classic instruments establishing contacts with the top English and German dealers and experts.

For several years, the Chigi-Bisiach studio attracted clients including famous concert artists from all over to have their instruments repaired, adjusted and appraised.

[2] Carlo Bisiach had met his love Daria Guidi (a concert pianist) while in Siena, married her in 1922 (he was 30 years old) and decided to make Tuscany his new home and moved to Firenze.

He was convinced that the classical masters of the 17th & 18th centuries had brought the violin to the peak of its formal and sonorous beauty and he was content to emulate them in so far as it was possible for him to do so.

"[5] Many distinguished artists owned Carlo Bisiach's instruments including Louis Kaufman (legendary American violin virtuoso), Franz von Vecsey, Edward Karkar, Maestro Saito of the Quartet of Tokyo and Dominique Pereira, concert violinist living in Bombay, India owned an Amatise Strad model circa 1923 then ordered a Guadagnini model as well.

He was convinced that the masters of the classic Cremonese school of the XVII and XVIII centuries had reached the height of perfection, in terms of elegance of form and fullness and softness of sound.

- Pardo Fornaciari "Dario II Vettori - for the construction of his instruments he uses the moulds and models from his family’s workshop, most of them originally belonging to Carlo Bisiach’s collection, once owned by Igino Sderci.

Gold medalist at various exhibitions" - Universal Dictionary by William Henley "Among the greatest representatives of the Tuscan Lutherie of the early 20th century were undoubtedly Carlo Bisiach, his friend and pupil Igino Sderci and Dario Vettori."

- Gualtiero Nicolini Liutai in Italia: dall'Ottocento ai giorni nostri 2008 "The finest new violins I have ever tried and I have played between 30 and 40 modern makers".

- Oct. 1939 Isaac Stern "Among the greatest representatives of the Tuscan Lutherie of the early 20th century were undoubtedly Carlo Bisiach, his friend and pupil Igino Sderci and Dario Vettori."

- Gualtiero Nicolini Liutai in Italia: dall'Ottocento ai giorni nostri 2008 "Carlo Bisiach was a marvelous maker."

They can be distinguished by means of the wood, which is selected with extreme care, for the smoother finishing and for the richness of the varnish, which reveals an optimum formulation which because of certain changes of color, makes the instrument seem old."