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Restoration Restoration is a very fascinating field and very vast one. From the very first times I stepped into these old workshops I was hit by the smell of hot hide glue mixed with terpentine, all these clamps and fixtures around me and the investigating process needed to plan the operation. In other words: restoration is the art of bringing an instrument in bad conditions back to life! Contrary to the work of building new instruments is that in restoration you don't have so much room for creativity. Instead you have to try to recreate someone elses work, dating back to times gone by!
The methods of building instruments vary based on location and time a given instrument was built. So do the materials such as the purfling or finishes. The first step in restoration is an accurate analysis of the instrument you will work on. One has to try to date back to the maker (if possible), geographical origin and period of construction. Great experience is needed in order to fully evaluate an instrument. I feel fortunate for having the possibility to count on my restoration teacher at the Cremona School Massimo Negroni. It is from him that I have learnt the basics of this delicate art of violin restoration.

Also the workshop of Carlson, Cacciatori, Neumann gave me further insights in restoration. Even now I'm still in contact with them and I have the possibility to turn to them for their advice and professionalism. As far as technical aspects are concerned, I feel I have acquired enough confidence to tackle more complex jobs. Some of my recent restorations:

- Soundpost patch "through table" on a "F. Manfredi, Modena, 1935"