Raffaele Calace e figlio, Napoli 1937: Italian violin (certificate Eric Blot)

Interesting violin by Raffaele Calace, a fully Neapolitan violin from 1937

Raffaele Calace (1863-1934) was an Italian mandolinist, composer, violin maker and music teacher. He is considered one of the most outstanding personalities in the history of the mandolin. Raffaele Calace came from a family of musicians in Naples and was involved in the music world from a young age, as his father, Nicola Calace, was a well-respected mandolin maker.

This full-bodied Neapolitan Italian Calace violin is one of the exquisite string instruments from the workshop of Raffaele Calace, which has enjoyed an excellent reputation among connoisseurs for almost 100 years – starting with none other than Fritz Kreisler, who was one of the customers of Raffaele Calace, who was only a few years older, and in whom he not only encountered a gifted instrument maker, but also a peer musician. Because Raffaele Calace was certainly an extremely successful liutaio, which in the Italian tradition always refers to the maker of plucked and bowed string instruments, but as a globally celebrated virtuoso and composer, he also made the mandolin known all over the world and won numerous international prizes, both for his interpretations and for his instruments. The fact that his workshop in Naples was able to flourish and establish itself as a place of artistic perfection, high productivity and innovative craftsmanship, despite his long concert tours, was due in no small part to his children, including his daughter Maria, who herself made music history as a mandolin virtuoso. Her brother Giuseppe Calace had been running his father's workshop since 1922, which is why the violin offered here, made in 1937, is labeled “Raffaele Calace & figlio” on the original hand-dated label. This instrument articulates the classic Neapolitan violin model in a clear design of high quality, which gives priority to the unmistakably soft, typically Italian sound – not too loud – and largely dispenses with spectacular The violin is a small-sized instrument, and the sound is dark and full-bodied, with a warm, mellow character. The violin is in excellent condition and has been carefully set up by a luthier. The field maple of the two-piece back and ribs also reveals at first glance that the tonewoods were selected by a master craftsman who worked creatively and was able to harmonize their musical and aesthetic properties with great skill. The tasteful red-brown varnish has developed an interesting patina over time, which, together with a few traces of use, determines the antique appearance of this crack-free violin in top condition. It was carefully set up at our workshop and made ready to play, so we can unreservedly recommend this violin from the best of families for demanding music-making at home. Its bright, mellow sound of medium strength combines sweetness and power to create the special character that Italian string instruments owe their excellent reputation and consistently high demand to.

Raffaele Calace 1937 violin short portrait:

• Neapolitan Calace violin built in 1937
• Beautiful, characterful tone woods
• Opaque red-brown varnish
• Mellow, sweet, by no means ordinary sound for enthusiasts
• crack-free condition, perfectly ready to play
• certificate from Eric Blot, Cremona included in the price

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