Oreste Candi

1865 – 1938

 

Oreste Candi was born in 1865 in the province of Bologna. While still very young, he worked in Raffaelle Fiorini’s workshop in Bologna with his brother, Cesare Candi. In 1888, Oreste and Cesare started working at a factory in Genoa making mandolins and guitars. From around 1900 to 1920, Candi ran a small shop selling music supplies. He only made stringed instruments occasionally until 1915, when he began violin-making as his main profession.

Oreste constructed a total of 125 violins as well as several violas and cellos, which won him several awards at various expositions. He drew inspiration from the Genovese school and most likely the instruments of Erminio Montefiori.