Cesare Candi was an Italian luthier known for his careful workmanship, distinctive style, and his role in shaping the Genoese school of violin making in the early 20th century. Born in Minerbio, near Bologna, in 1869, he began his training in 1884 with Raffaele Fiorini, an influential figure in the revival of Italian violin making.
In 1888, Candi relocated to Genoa, where he joined his brother Oreste Candi in the workshop of Fratelli Barberis. Initially focused on guitars and mandolins, the two later opened their own workshop. Cesare gradually turned his attention to bowed string instruments, drawing on the styles of Genoese makers such as Enrico Rocca and Eugenio Praga.
Candi’s violins, violas, and cellos are characterized by clean outlines, deep edgework, and finely carved scrolls. He often used Stradivari models and favored a warm varnish in golden to red tones. One feature that sets his work apart is the use of continuous linings over corner blocks, a detail that reflects his early experience with plucked instruments.
Some of his instruments also feature decorative inlays or carved elements, showing a personal artistic touch. In 1915, Candi was appointed curator of Niccolò Paganini’s “Il Cannone”, the 1743 Guarneri del Gesù violin held by the city of Genoa. He later restored the instrument in 1937 for the Stradivari bicentennial in Cremona.
He continued to work in Genoa until his death in 1947. His instruments remain appreciated for their workmanship, tone, and distinctive Genoese character.
