A violin by Vincenzo Postiglione, Naples 1906

Price range: £50,000+

Vincenzo Postiglione was born in Naples in 1831. He may have started learning the rudiments of violin making from his father, but he began studying in earnest with Vincenzo Iorio around the age of 16. Iorio died in 1849, at which time Postiglione became more interested studying the works of the Gagliano family as opposed to the less refined work of his deceased master. In 1955, he established his own workshop. After many years of copying the Gagliano style, Postiglione shifted his focus to the models of Stradivari and Guarneri. In the 1870s, he modeled most of his instruments on the Cremonese masters.

By the 1880s, Postiglione’s incredible knowledge of traditional Italian violin making had made him the most influential luthier of the modern Neapolitan school. In 1892, he began training Alfredo Contino, who worked with him until his death in 1916. Positglione officially retired in 1910, leaving his shop under the ownership of his sons. However, since his sons weren’t trained as luthiers, they continued to employ Contino to run production in the workshop. Contino continued to make instruments in a similar style to that of Postiglione for many decades.

Postiglione made around 400 violins during his career, as well as many violas and cellos. He is one of Naples’ finest makers.

This example is extremely fine and is possibly one of the last few made by the master. It is featured in the new Dmitry Gindin book “The Modern Italian Violin Makers” and comes with his certificate along with Bishop’s.

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