Stump The Chump

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

Any similarites here?

Well, the upper and lower left are both Cornerless basses attributed to Storioni. This I know as one of them is mine. The other was featured in the 'Strad' some time ago and is listed on 'Cozio', 7th page (and Elgar). The FFs are similar on both Basses but not exact. Storioni is listed as never making 2 instruments alike. No forms or molds were ever used as he built them from the 'blocks'! In this case, the 'blocks' were at opposite ends. He also never made or placed the FFs on two instruments alike and is listed as being less Cremona and more Neapolitan-like as far as the Varnish goes. However, he IS known as the last great Cremona maker regardless of all his flaws and inconsistencies.

The two on the right are a Violin and maybe a Cello?, the upper right? The lower looking more Guarnieri-like as that was a maker he followed but never copied exactly. The upper right could be him but nothing similar to the others. The Varnish shows some skill. Remember that Alessandro Gagliano (and one of his brothers) who founded the Neapolitan school (who Storioni is 'accused' of varnishing in the manner of) trained in Cremona and even worked for quite some time (maybe 20 years, Alessandro) in the workshop of Stradivari himself.

I do not claim to know Storioni or his work but I do guess that the riddle Mr. McKay is on this maker, especially when you list 2 attr. Storioni's in the pack.

I showed pics of my Bass to both Fernando Grillo and Sergio Scaramelli and they both said it was a 'beautiful Storioni'. That's a good day for me when the Italians talk like that..

More Cornerless talk here, here and here..