Raffaele Fiorini

A famous violin player and teacher, Professor Verardi, induced him to start the 'Bolognese adventure' and to open a workshop in the Palazzo Pepoli, not far from the Liceo Musicale, in Bologna downtown.

These are among the best bowed instrument makers of the 20th century in Italy: Augusto Pollastri, first of this renowned luthier family, started his career as an apprentice in Raffaele Fiorini's studio.

After Raffaele Fiorini's death Augusto Pollastri managed one of the most important luthier's Atelier in Bologna for thirty years, helped also by his brother Gaetano.

Armando Monterumici was another Bolognese artist who apprenticed in the same workshop during the last years of the 19th century and who deserves to be known better; in fact his production is today quite rare to find.

Giuseppe, son of Raffaele, quickly achieved a solid reputation and today he is certainly considered one of the most important Italian violin makers.

Cremona too should be grateful to this scholar who, after forty years of essays, bought the rest of Stradivari's workshop (shapes, tools, original drawings, models) and donated them upon the city, in order to form a lutherie school which could bring again Italy at the top of the bowed instrument making world.