In Focus: A 1911 cello by Guglielmo Secondo Camillo Mandelli

front scroll

Lionnel Genovart looks at the Italian maker’s instrument

Guglielmo Secondo Camillo Mandelli is also known to the violin world as ‘Camillo di Calco’ after his birthplace in northern Italy. Born in 1873, he worked as a furniture maker until he moved to Milan, about 30 miles south of Calco, to study instrument making. He began his tuition under Leandro Bisiach, and later trained with the brothers Riccardo and Romeo Antoniazzi.

In 1899 Mandelli moved to Buenos Aires, where he was mainly employed in the construction of violins, violas and cellos, although he also made a few piccolo violins and double basses. He was the first luthier hired by the Teatro Colón opera house when it opened in 1908.

Because of the high quality of his instruments, Mandelli cultivated strong links with important musicians and the high society of his time, such as the affluent Tornquist family. Notable collectors valued his instruments, among them Gustavo Herten who at one time owned the 1703 ‘Emiliani’ Stradivari violin. Most notably, the amateur musician and collector Isaac Fernández Blanco commissioned many instruments from him, including a ‘pochette’ violin which won a gold medal and diploma at the 1910 Centennial International Exposition in Buenos Aires. In 1920 he returned to Italy, motivated by the passion he had for his art, and continued building instruments.

Mandelli maintained a strong stylistic personality, although his masters’ influences can be perceived in his work. He selected fine materials and utilised oil and alcohol-based varnishes, generally of red–brown or red–gold shades. His instruments are labelled ‘Camillo Mandelli’, ‘Camillo da Calco’ or even ‘Camillo Mandelli di Calco’…

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe 

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.