Giovanni Longiaru Italian Violin

Full Size

Longiaru (1886-1970) and was born in Pozzale, Italy, near Pieve di Cadore, just north of Venice. He trained as a wood carver and was doing sculpture in Venice before he learned violin making in Cremona. As a young man he studied violin at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Venice, and he later become curator of the instruments housed at the Conservatory.

In 1904 he immigrated to the United States and worked as a fine restorer of instruments for Cremonese violin maker Giugliamo V. Pozzoni of Brooklyn, and eventually went beyond his teacher to become the repairman and restorer of choice to the New York professional orchestral players and famous soloists such as Ysaye and Sarasate.