Alfredus Contino violin, 1923, signed, Naples | Metzler Violins

resonant, bright, spirited

About the Instrument
This violin has a refined sound across its range, with a particular brightness in the upper registers. Its two-piece back piece bears beautiful flames that also run strongly along the ribs, neck, and scroll. The instrument’s varnish is a lovely reddish-brown with a golden ground. The back button bears Contino’s brand, which reads “A. Contino Napoli.” The interior of the top plate includes an inscription of a jettatura or “evil eye” to ward off bad luck. The jettatura bears a pyramid with an eye in the center and “P. F. T” at its points. Below the pyramid reads: “Alfred Contino / Noc fecit Napoli / 1923.” This violin is great condition.

Interior label reads: “Alredus Contino / Premiento al Concorso di Liuteria in ROMA / unico allievo di V. POSTIGLIONE / — Fecit Napoli anno 1923” with his signature.
Length: 357 mm
Upper Bouts: 159 mm
Middle: 108 mm
Lower Bouts: 197 mm

About the Maker
Alfredo Contino (1890-1963) was born in Naples and, at twelve, worked under Vincenzo Postiglione, one of the leading Italian luthiers of the 19th century. Contino succeeded Postiglione in taking over the workshop. He known for his remarkably accurate copies of Gagliano family instruments, though others are based on Stradivari and Guarneri models. His earlier works, such as this one, are known as his finest. In 1932, Contino earned a gold medal at Padua. Some of his instruments have ground varnish treated with potassium bichromate, giving them a distinctive “olive oil” or greenish hue that references earlier Neapolitan luthiers’ aesthetics. Contino often branded his back button or lower rib with “A. Contino Napoli.” Perhaps most compellingly, Contino drew a Southern Italian mark of the jettatura in his instruments. The jettatura is the power of the evil eye, captured in a symbol to ward off bad luck for its bearer. Contino inscribed the evil eye on the interior front plate of his violins near the upper shoulder—a location nearly impossible to see.