Dictionary of Makers

Son of a farmer who dabbed in woodworking, Giuseppe Odoardi first became acquainted with violin making after being called upon to repair an instrument in his rural hometown outside Ascoli Piceno. While his clients were mostly local at first, his skills quickly made him known to professional musicians passing through the region, who turned to him for repair work and also commissioned instruments from him. He soon became the best maker of the region. Historical accounts of his career suggest that he made around 200 violins in his lifetime, which were widely copied though he had no apprentices. His scrolls are deeply carved and very symmetrical, with a hook-like final turn in the volute. The wood used for the purfling is often a bright yellow color, which gives the edges a striking appearance.