TUNE
“Quality handmade violins...are special in that the process
is much a part of its beauty and character as its design.”
While we depend a lot on our family’s violin-making practices
and traditions, we do open ourselves up to experimentation;
we try out new molds and materials, anything we find
interesting. I think this is also what helps set us apart from the
generally conservative world of violin-making.
Can you talk about some of the wood materials you've
used and found special?
We mostly use maple from both Italy and Bosnia.
We have various sources of wood and make use of a
variety of types for our work, from the traditional spruce
from Val di Fiemme to poplar, willow, cherry and pear
wood among others.
There are some standout materials however, like how
we make beautiful cellos from white Bosnian maples,
some of which were left by my grandfather for our use,
and the time I (Dario) was able to find antique spruce in a
sawmill that dates back to the 17th century. There was also
that one time when my father was driving his car in the
countryside. He then caught sight of beautiful maples which
he saved from a fire from a farmer, who let him have it.
What changes or innovations did your shop pursue
to keep up with contemporary needs? How have the
changes affected the family and clientele?
Innovations...well, the internet for one truly helped as
it gave us tremendous possibility to open our market and
cast a wider net. Our website is our window to the world
and the portal by which people from around the globe can
learn about us. The advent of websites and social media is
especially good for our overseas clients. We still do things
our way, but the clientele has definitely grown with online
exposure. The internet has also allowed us to share our
expertise and share our views on the importance of tradition,
patience and material choices in the field of violin-making.
Today's world has hurtled towards speed, efficiency
and mechanizing processes, but there is still clamor
for handmade instruments. Why do you think this is
so? What distinct qualities do handmade instruments
have that mass-produced ones don't?
I actually think that drawing out patience and the long
waiting time for handcrafted objects, like our violins, make
people appreciate and love the craft more because it makes
them aware of how much time, care, passion and dedication
is necessary to produce works of beauty. It takes six
months up to a year to complete a violin commission.
While mechanized processes can speed up production,
hardcore violinists and fans know that the sound and
build quality of handmade violins are much different, and
definitely more attractive and special in that the process is
much a part of its beauty and character as its design.
What are the qualities of a Vettori violin that is
distinctive to it and no one else?
Definitely its familial heritage. What makes every Vettori
violin special is that it is a product of the learnings and practices
of a single family devoted to perfecting the art of violin-
making. This is something our clients cherish about our pieces.
Any interesting or memorable anecdotes about
clients who've bought and used your violins?
We once had a professional musician client whose husband
owned an original Stradivari violin. A teacher as well, the
musician came to Florence for a masterclass and fell in love
with a cello we created. The cello wasn’t for sale, however. She
came back to us and wanted to try the cello again. We lent it
to her. She professed to us: “I am in love, and I have to buy this
cello.” The husband also told us how his wife was so enamored
with the instrument and that as he loves her so, he pleaded its
sale to us. We were won over by the client’s passion for the
instrument so we sold the cello to her, and she toured with it.
How would you describe the violin-making scene now?
It is now very international, something we have always
been used to, as even in the olden days, my grandfather
had an open mind. Every region in Italy had its own style
of violin-making and my grandfather was able to learn
from various regions and schools, devouring techniques
and designs, eventually producing ones distinctly his own.
In today’s open and diverse world, being open-minded
is a must, and I’m glad to say this has been passed on to
us. We know having an open mind opens us up to even
more learning. The advent of the internet has also helped
widen and increase exposure to the practitioners and
practices surrounding the world of violin-making, which
I think is good because it reveals the amount of work and
dedication needed to produce our pieces.
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