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Sgarabotto and Ornati: lives in fragments

2026-05-01T08:23:00

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When Giuseppe Ornati and Pietro Sgarabotto donated the contents of their workshops to the Cremona School of Violin Making, they ensured an enduring legacy. Luca Baratto and Matteo Giovanetti tell the story and examine some of the treasures

Among the numerous master luthiers who have taught at the Cremona School of Violin Making, two figures in particular stand out: Giuseppe Ornati (1887–1965) and Pietro Sgarabotto (1903–90), who taught there from 1961 to 1963 and from 1958 to 1973 respectively. Both were leading exponents of 20th-century violin making, bringing their own sensibilities and experiences to the resurgent Cremonese violin making movement. They were also masters who took to their teaching vocation with dedication and rigour…

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