Leandro Bisiach (Senior)

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Leandro Bisiach in his workshop (1929)

Leandro Bisiach , meaning Leandro Bisiach Senior , (born June 16, 1864 in Casale Monferrato , † December 1, 1945 in Venegono Superiore ) was an Italian violin maker. He was a co-founder and later owner of the Milanese lute and violin making company Bisiach . Bisiach and his teacher Riccardo Antoniazzi are considered to be the co-founders of the modern Milanese violin making school.

life and work

Leandro Bisiach had learned to play the violin as a boy and to work wood from his father, who was a woodcarver. Around 1886 he learned the craft of violin making from Riccardo and Romeo Antoniazzi in Milan. In 1890 he founded a lute and violin making workshop in Milan with Riccardo Antoniazzi and his brother Romeo and his father Gaetano. The workshop operated under Bisiach's name and flourished. Besides Riccardo, Romeo and Gaetano Antoniazzi, Bisiach provided numerous other violin makers such as Gaetano Sgarabotto , Giuseppe Ornati , Ferdinando Garimberti and Iginio Sdercie . Bisiach also traded in old Italian violins.

Many violins bearing the Bisiach label can be assigned to other instrument makers (e.g. Riccardo Antoniazzi). Nevertheless, Leandro Bisiach's personal work shows a high level of understanding of the classic predecessors and a very high quality. Towards the end of his creative period, the style of the instruments becomes more cumbersome and less inspired. Leandro Bisiach's violins made before 1914 are in demand on the music market.

His four sons Andrea, Carlo, Giacomo and Leandro (Junior, 1904–1982) assisted him in the workshop for many years. In 1900 Leandro Bisiach bought a villa in Venegono Superiore (Varese), which became the official place of business from 1925. After the two older sons Andrea and Carlo left the company, Leandro Bisiach Senior retired from the operational workshop in Milan to Venegono in 1932 and left the workshop business to the two younger sons Giacomo and Leandro Junior. Leandro Bisiach Senior continued to work in Venegono as a specialist in violin valuations and repairs.

Leandro Bisiach Senior was gifted both in terms of craftsmanship and entrepreneurship. He received numerous awards for his instruments: In London in 1895, in Atlanta in 1895/96, in Turin in 1898, in Paris in 1900, in Milan in 1906 and in Brussels in 1910. Leandro Bisiach died in December 1945 in Venegono. The company continued under the name Giacomo and Leandro Bisiach until 1973.

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Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Leandro Bisiach: In: MGG Online.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h John Dilworth: Leandro Bisiach.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Leandro Bisiach. At: Tarisio.
  4. ↑ a b Leandro Bisiach. At: Giordanoviolins.com.
  5. ↑ PJK: The Bisiach Family Heritage. 1983.
personal data
SURNAME Bisiach, Leandro
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bisiach, Leandro Giuseppe (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian lute and violin maker
DATE OF BIRTH June 16, 1864
PLACE OF BIRTH Casale Monferrato
DATE OF DEATH December 1, 1945
Place of death Venegono Superiore