Dictionary of Makers

Giorgio Serafin was the nephew and pupil ofSanto, and worked independently from the early 1740s. However, Giorgio did not take over his uncle's workshop on the latter's retirement in 1744, but worked for Montagnana, who died six years later, in 1750. After their father's death, Montagnana's three daughters entered into a partnership with Serafin to continue the running of the workshop, and one of the terms of the agreement was that he should marry one of the daughters, Antonia.

 

Serafin seems to have spent much of his time repairing instruments, so his own work is extremely rare. The 1743 violin featured here shows the influence of his uncle in the model andf holes, and the striking similarity with the circa 1740 Santo Serafin would support the theory that Giorgio was assisting his uncle at that time