Gaetano Pollastri

Biography

Gaetano Pollastri (b 1886 - d 1960)Gaetano, Augusto's younger brother,was a professional violinist but after the first world war he devoted himself to violin making. He worked with the same company as his brother in via Castiglione that was devoted to the construction, repair and commerce of string instruments. In 1927 he received the Certificate of Honour at the contemporary violin making exhibition- competition in Cremona. When Augusto died in 1927 he took over his brother's company. In the following twenty years Gaetano constructed numerous instruments of which, in 1930, a violin with papal coat of arms that he personally donated to Pope Pious XI. He also restored precious violins; a Stradivari and a Guarneri of Guglielmo Marconi brother's property, Alfonso. He won the Certificate of Honour in Cremona in ' 49. In 1954 he showed two violins at the 2nd National Competition of Contemporary violin making in Rome, obtaining a Certificate of Honour, and was present with his instruments at the Ascoli Piceno (' 54) and Pegli (' 56) competitions. He worked very hard to promote his profession and was a founding associate of the ANLAI.. His students include Cesare Pollastri, Franco Albanelli and Otello Bignami. - [http://www.ilsuonodibologna.org Il Suono di Bologna]

References

*Augusto e Gaetano Pollastri / Bologna 1877-1960 by Cesare Magrini about the Pollastri family. Cremona 1990.
*"Il Suono di Bologna, Da Raffaele Fiorini ai grandi maestri del Novecento". Catalogo della Mostra nella chiesa di San Giorgio in Poggiale", Bologna 2002. ISBN 88-85250-06-8
*Eric Blot, "Un secolo di Liuteria Italiana 1860-1960 - A century of Italian Violin Making - Emilia e Romagna I", Cremona 1994. ISBN 88-7929-026-6
*Dictionary of 20th Century Italian Violin Makers - Marlin Brinser 1978
*The Strad January 1984 Bologna - A living tradition of Violin Making
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*Walter Hamma, "Meister Italienischer Geigenbaukunst", Wilhelmshaven 1993, ISBN 3-7959-0537-0

Living Museum

Discover the history of the Bolognese School

'Up to the first half of the nineteenth century, Violin Making in Italy was in a standstill cycle; yet, during the second half of the century, Raffaele Fiorini [http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiorini_Raffaele] gave new impulse to it.Thanks to him, born in Musiano di Pianoro,the luthier's ancient Art was brought back to a new life.' - [http://www.ilsuonodibologna.org/en/overhist.htm History] | [http://www.ilsuonodibologna.org/en/vlnmakrs.htm Bolognese Violin Makers] | [http://www.ilsuonodibologna.org www.ilsuonodibologna.org] | [http://www.danielecanu.it/scuola.htm The Violin making Tradition of Bologna]

View a fine example of Gaetano Pollastri violin Bologna circa 1936 :

[http://www.jordansandquist.com/gallery/italy/modern_italian/pollastri/index2.html Gaetano Pollastri violin Bologna circa 1936]

[http://www.jordansandquist.com/gallery/italy/modern_italian/pollastri/large-3.html Gaetano Pollastri - violin 1936 top]

[http://www.jordansandquist.com/gallery/italy/modern_italian/pollastri/large-5.html Gaetano Pollastri - violin 1936 back]

[http://www.jordansandquist.com/gallery/italy/modern_italian/pollastri/large-7.html Gaetano Pollastri - violin 1936 f-hole closeup]

[http://www.jordansandquist.com/gallery/italy/modern_italian/pollastri/index3.html Gaetano Pollastri - violin 1936 scroll]