Ansaldo Poggi

Ansaldo Poggi was born in Villafontana di Medicina in 1893. His father was an amateur violin maker, and he began his studies as a violinist. An acquaintanceship between his father and Giuseppe Fiorini allowed him to begin violin making in Fiorini’s Zurich workshop in 1921 after military service in the First World War. From Fiorini Poggi acquired a very technical and classical technique, and he became one of his most successful pupils. His own style began to develop after about 1930, but remained very sophisticated and well-articulated, using the best quality materials and varnish. He was presented with numerous awards at competitions in Rome and exhibited a quartet at the Cremona exhibition of 1937. He taught numerous pupils himself, including Giancarlo Guicciardi and Giampolo Savini, and can be rightly seen as one of the most influential and sought-after makers of the twentieth century in Italy. He died in 1984.