Violin Maker
Giuseppe Totis
Italy, San Vito al Tagliamento
Distinguished and unconventional, Giuseppe Totis was a modern Italian maker who clearly had a fine formal training, as it can be noticed on the quality of his craftsmanship, and also looked after the finest references of antique Italian violin making tradition, making his own work the combined interpretation of it all.Read more
Short Bio
Full Name: Giuseppe Totis
Highlights
New making style: New
Credentials
Italian traditional craftsmanship
Rare modern maker
Northern italian school
Locally making
Italy, San Vito al Tagliamento
Maker Background
Giuseppe Totis was born in 1910, and from a young age was involved with the violin making world. There is no confirmation whatsoever that he did it professionally. Despite the high quality of his work, the small number of instruments known by him indicates that it is unlikely that he established his own business, and that he may have worked for other makers' companies for the most part of his life.Throughout his career, he moved frequently, working at San Vito al Tagliamento, Gorizia and Pordenone. He used a personal model adapted after Cremonese classic masterpieces, and a light red varnish. In 1937, he participated in the Violins Exhibition in Cremona, organized for the bicentenary of Stradivari's death, with two violins. It is probable that Giuseppe Totis died in battle during the Second World War conflicts.