Dante Baldoni (1868–1940), born in Numana, in the Marche region of Italy, was likely influenced by the luthiery traditions of his local region during his early life. While no definitive records of his apprenticeship or formal training exist, Numana itself was a smaller town without a direct history of large violin-making schools. Given the scarcity of historical records, insights into Baldoni’s influences and development are speculative, giving rise to the notion that he was primarily self-taught. However, Numana’s proximity to Ancona and Bologna suggests influence from the Baldantoni family, Nicola Utili, and the Fiorini family. Moreover, Raffaele Vitali worked in Numana, and other prominent luthiers active in the Marche region from 1880-1900 include Giuseppe Tarasconi, Giovanni Foschi, Alessandro Stagi, Carlo Benelli, Antonio Peroni, Giovanni Rossi, Dominco Tiberi, Luigi Bordoni, to name a few.

Baldoni developed a reputation for both good workmanship and a distinct style during his own lifetime, with more famous clients including Von Vecsey and Jan Kubelik, who’s ‘Emporer’ Strad Baldoni worked on and copied. Baldoni emigrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina at the turn of the century and used patterns of his own design for instrument making in addition to Strad and Carcassi patterns. He worked with an outside mould and typically used ebony purfling (as opposed to dyed fruitwoods), sometimes also crafting instruments from South American woods. In 2013, one of his cellos sold at auction for a hammer price of  $15,600. His instruments have become increasingly more desirable since; particularly, through price and appreciation comparisons with his Italian contemporaries working in Marche, circa 1890-1940.

This highly characteristic example of Dante Baldoni’s work is dated 1909 and beautifully exemplifies his stylizations upon Carcassi, featuring a beautiful one piece back of irregularly flamed maple, with matching selections for the ribs and head. The model, full bodied, with elegant corners, demonstrating a robust voice with that tantalizing italian sizzle and a gratifying balance between resistance and razor sharp response.