Otello Bignami (August 6, 1914 - December 1, 1989) was an Italian

violin maker A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers of ...

from

Bologna Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...

Life

The life of Otello Bignami closely resembles the lives of various 19th-century

violin makers A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers of ...

in that he drew much vitality from the farming and craft traditions of his origins. He was a student of

Gaetano Pollastri Gaetano Pollastri (1886–1960) 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 co ...

, and the possibility to be able to indicate on his instrument labels that he was a student of Pollastri contributed towards launching his career. Bignami also practiced the profession of restorer of fine art work and fine furniture, experiences which were undoubtedly valuable in preparing and composing his

varnish Varnish is a clear transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not a stain. It usually has a yellowish shade from the manufacturing process and materials used, but it may also be pigmented as desired, and is sold commercially in vario ...

. He was awarded prizes at the International Exhibition of Cremona (1949), the Third National Competition of Santa Cecilia Academy of Rome (first prize, 1956), and the Wieniawski Competition in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...

("best maker in Italy," 1957). He won first prize and Gold medal in 1967 at

Bagnacavallo Bagnacavallo ( rgn, Bagnacavàl) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The Renaissance painter Bartolomeo Ramenghi bore the nickname of his native city. Main sights *''Castellaccio'' (15th century) * Giardi ...

. In 1976 he was awarded a "gold violin" from the city of Bagnacavallo; subsequently he won a prize for his special dedication to teaching. In the course of over forty years of incessant activity, he built a vast number of instruments in the violin family, including several quartets. His instruments are known for their beauty and acoustic qualities. Amongst his list of illustrious clients was

David Oistrakh David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (; – 24 October 1974), was a Soviet classical violinist, violist and conductor. Oistrakh collaborated with major orchestras and musicians from many parts of the world and was the dedicatee of numerous violin ...

. Bignami's role as a teacher, and subsequently director, in the violin making school instituted in Bologna during the early 1980s was decisive in ensuring the continuity of the violin making tradition in this region.

Quotes

"In his rare moments dedicated to relaxation, Otello ventured into another creative art with passion and real dedication: painting. He painted landscapes, still life, and flowers with sweet and melancholic shades, usually giving them away to relations and friends. This was another vehicle for Otello's idealistic and dreamy personality which he expressed without compromise. A silent and discreet way of offering an unforgettable memory of his soul." - Liutaio in Bologna / Violinmaker in Bologna by William Bignami

List of Pupils

* Pietro Trimboli (1939-) * Curzio Rossi (1936-1977) * Paolo Ansaloni (1948-) * Franco Samoggia (1938-) * Luigi Laterrenia (1952-) *

Roberto Regazzi Roberto Regazzi (born 20 August 1956 in Bologna, Italy) is a notable contemporary violin maker and scholar who received his initiation in the craft from Otello Bignami. Regazzi lives and works in Bologna. Biography The debut was at an early ag ...

(1956-) * Paola Malaguti (1957-) * Felicia Pansini (1952-) *

Gianni Orsini Gianni is an Italian name (occasionally a surname), a short form of the Italian Giovanni and a cognate of John meaning God is gracious. Gianni is the most common diminutive of Giovanni in Italian. People with this given name * Gianni Agnelli (in ...

(1938-) * Antonello Adamo (1964-1995) * Barbara Meyer (1959-) * Luca Mazzetti (1960-) *

Antonello Gamberini Antonello da Messina, properly Antonello di Giovanni di Antonio, but also called Antonello degli Antoni and Anglicized as Anthony of Messina ( 1430February 1479), was an Italian painter from Messina, active during the Early Italian Renaissance ...

(1961-1991) *

Vincenzo Barile Vincenzo is an Italian male given name, derived from the Latin name Vincentius (the verb ''vincere'' means to win or to conquer). Notable people with the name include: Art *Vincenzo Amato (born 1966), Italian actor and sculptor * Vincenzo Bell ...

(1964-) *

Alvise Cristinelli Louis is the French form of the Old Frankish given name Chlodowig and one of two English forms, the other being Lewis (). Etymology The name Louis (through the intermediate form Clovis) derives from the Frankish name ᚺᛚᛟᛞᛟᚹᛁᚷ ( ...

(1958-) *

Daniele Canu Daniele is an Hebrew male given name, the cognate of the English name Daniel. Danièle is a French female given name, an alternative spelling of Danielle. Men with the given name Daniele * Daniele Bracciali (born 1978), Italian tennis player * ...

(1955-) *

Alessandro Urso Alessandro is both a given name and a surname, the Italian form of the name Alexander. Notable people with the name include: People with the given name Alessandro * Alessandro Allori (1535–1607), Italian portrait painter * Alessandro Baric ...

(1963-) *

Bruno Stefanini Bruno Stefanini (5 August 1924 – 14 December 2018) was a Swiss real estate investor and art collector. Life Born on 5 August 1924 in Winterthur, Switzerland, Bruno Stefanini did not come from a wealthy family. He set up his real estate comp ...

(1960-) *

Raffaello Stefanini Raffaello, Raffaele or Raffaellino is an Italian given name. It usually refers to Raphael (a.k.a. Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino), an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. Raffaello may also refer to: * Raffaello (confection), a conf ...

(1954-) *

Sergio Gregorat Sergio may refer to: * Sergio (given name), for people with the given name Sergio * Sergio (carbonado), the largest rough diamond ever found * ''Sergio'' (album), a 1994 album by Sergio Blass * ''Sergio'' (2009 film), a documentary film * ''S ...

(1962-) *

Giuseppe Gugole Giuseppe is the Italian form of the given name Joseph, from Latin Iōsēphus from Ancient Greek Ἰωσήφ (Iōsḗph), from Hebrew יוסף. It is the most common name in Italy and is unique (97%) to it. The feminine form of the name is Giuse ...

(1954-) *

Giovanna Benzi Giovanna is an Italian feminine first name. It is the feminine counterpart of the masculine Giovanni, which in turn is the Italian form of John; it is thus the Italian equivalent of Jane, Joanna, Jeanne, etc. In Brazil, the feminine name Giovan ...

(1960-) * Federico Lippi Bruni (1957-) * Ezia di Labio (1960-) *

(1979-1983) * Maurizio Spignoli (1958-2007)

Instruments

In the course of over forty years of incessant activity, he built a vast number of instruments in the violin family, including several quartets (most prominent are from 1975,1976 & 1977). 1975 & 1976 were made as dedications to

. 1977 was made as homage and dedication to

Augusto Pollastri Augusto Pollastri (11 March 1877, in Bologna – 9 November 1927, in Bologna) was an Italian violin maker, older brother to Gaetano Pollastri. Started his career as an apprentice in Raffaele Fiorini's studio. Augusto's father was a miller and a ...

(marking the centenary celebration of Augusto's birth). Bignamis instruments are known for their beauty and acoustic qualities. O. Bignami Viola which was part of a quartet from 1976: File:Bignami_Otello_Bologna_1976_viola_1.jpg, Otello Bignami Viola top Firenze1976 File:Bignami_Otello_Bologna_1976_viola_2.jpg, Otello Bignami Viola back Firenze 1976 File:Bignami Otello Bologna 1976 viola 3.jpg, Otello Bignami Viola scroll and side Firenze1976

Living Museum

The Bolognese school that Bignami directed is now a living museum. His workshop was carefully reconstructed and is still in use."...Otello Bignami, teacher of the greatest part of the professional luthiers now living and working in Bologna; his memory is still very vivid among them who knew him. The reconstruction of his workshop shall be a true sign of love besides an important educational and historical research. Goal of this exhibition is to examine thoroughly these Masters' work in their own geographical historical and social context, showing to the townspeople a real treasure of artistic tradition."

Bibliography

*William Bignami, ''Otello Bignami Liutaio in Bologna - Violinmaker in Bologna'', *''Vita d'Autore - Note su Otello Bignami Liutaio in Bologna 1914-1989 - A Life of Artistry - Sketches of Otello Bignami violin maker in Bologna'', contributions by Roberto Verti, Adriano Cavicchi,

, Giovanna Benzi and

Tito Gotti Tito Gotti (6 July 1927 – 11 May 2024) was an Italian orchestra conductor, musicologist, and essayist. Gotti died on 11 May 2024, at the age of 96. Discography *''Les grandes heures de San Petronio de Bologne'' *''En la Basilique San Petronio ...

, Bologna 1991 and 1993, *''Il Suono di Bologna, Da Raffaele Fiorini ai grandi maestri del Novecento". Catalogo della Mostra nella chiesa di San Giorgio in Poggiale'', Bologna 2002, *''A Misura d'Uomo'', Venezia 1985, *''Paradigmi. Forme nell'Artigianato'', Bologna 1988 and 1989 *Daniele Benati - Pierluigi Giordani, ''Stanze bolognesi - La Collezione Lauro'', Bologna 1994 *Alessandro Bugatti - Adriano Ragazzi, ''Tecniche basate sulla conoscenza per la classificazione di oggetti complessi: un'applicazione all'analisi di violini di interesse storico'', Brescia 1998 *Eric Blot, ''Un secolo di Liuteria Italiana 1860-1960 - A century of Italian Violin Making - Emilia e Romagna I'', Cremona 1994 and 2003, , *

Marlin Brinser Marlins are fish from the family Istiophoridae, which includes about 10 species. A marlin has an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long, rigid dorsal fin which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to der ...

, ''Dictionary of 20th Century Italian Violin Makers'', 1978 *The Strad, January 1984, ''Bologna - A living tradition of Violin Making'' * * *Chiara Tenan, ''Otello Bignami und die Bologneser Geigenbauschule des 20.Jahrhunderts - Diplomarbei zur Erlangung des Akademischen Grades Magistra der Künste in der Studienrichtung 'Violoncello' an der Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Mozarteum in Salzburg, Betreuer: Dietmar Machold'', Salzburg 2001 *

Walter Hamma Walter Hamma (22 September 1916 – 11 August 1988) was a German violin maker. His father, Fridolin Hamma, was an influential violin maker. Walter Hamma was pupil of the violin making school in Mittenwald Mittenwald is a German municipalit ...

, ''Meister Italienischer Geigenbaukunst'', Wilhelmshaven 1993,

Notes

References

* http://www.florenusedizioni.com/ilsuono.htm * http://www.artigianatoartistico.it/fiera_maestriliutai.htm#obignami {{DEFAULTSORT:Bignami, Otello Italian musical instrument makers Italian luthiers Bowed string instrument makers 1914 births 1989 deaths 20th-century Italian musicians