Giovanni Kasermann

Giovanni Käsermann (1881-1965) was a Neapolitan luthier during the first half of the 20th century specializing in mandolins. His workshop was located at Via Carbonara 112 (Palazzo Caracciolo) in Naples, Italy, and he was an active luthier until at least 1951.

His instruments from the early 1900s bear various labels marked "Fratelli Häsermann," while later instruments in the 1910s to 1940s are labeled "Giovanni Käsermann." His craftsmanship featured classic Neapolitan mandolin styles apparent on his decorative bowlback mandolins, but he is also credited with employing a novel double-top design.

An advertisement for Käsermann's workshop published in the 1922 Musique-Adresses Universel states, "A distinguished workshop for Neapolitan mandolins. Unsurpassed concert mandolins for soloists, featuring a marvelous tone and absolutely perfect intonation in every position—a level of quality never before attained in such instruments. We also offer mandolas, mandoloncellos, lutes, mandolones, and guitars, as well as tortoiseshell picks and high-quality musical strings for all types of instruments."

Major auction appearances include a guitar at the Phillip's London Musical Instruments Auction in 1980. The lot is described as, "An Italian Guitar by GIOVANNI KASERMANN bearing the maker's signed label in Naples, dated 1928. The two-piece back and sides of medium curl maple with rosewood and purfling surround, the table of medium grain pine, the circular soundhole and table surround of patterned mother-o'-pearl inset black plastic. The fingerboard with alternate between frets of mother-o'-pearl and ebony divisions. The six string machine head culminating in a violin scroll. Pin bridge. (Three open cracks on lower table.)"

Aside from plucked instruments, Käsermann also made a violin that was exhibited at the 1937 National Violin Making Exhibition and Competition in Cremona, Italy.

References

  1. ↑ Colturato, Annarita (2006). Le Fonti musicali in Piemonte (in Italian). Vol. I Torino. Libreria Musicale Italiana. p. 319. ISBN 9788870964431.
  2. ↑ "Imposta sui redditi di ricchezza mobile elenco dei contribuenti privati possessori di redditi incerti e variabili delle categorie B e C (esclusa la rivalsa)". Italia : Direzione generale imposte dirette: 254. 1928.
  3. ↑ Vannes, René (1951). Dictionnaire universel des luthiers (2nd ed.). Bruxelles: Les Amis de la Musique. p. 181.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  4. ↑ Lippi, Lorenzo (2020). "Mandolin patents in Italy between 1870 and 1930: between real innovations and commercial strategy". "Il periodo d'oro del mandolino" curated by Ugo Orlandi: 7 – via academia.edu..
  5. ↑ Musique-Adresses Universel. Paris: Office Général de la Musique. 1922. p. 616.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  6. ↑ Phillip's Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, March 27, 1980. London: Phillip's. 1980. p. 9.
  7. ↑ Jalovec, Karel (1964). Italian Violin Makers (Revised ed.). London: Paul Hamlyn. p. 255.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  8. ↑ Santoro, Elia (1996). Le Celebrazioni stradivarianne a Cremona: 1937-1949. Turris. p. 147. ISBN 9788879291422.
  9. ↑ Marlin, Brinser (1978). Dictionary of Twentieth Century Italian Violin Makers. Irvington, NJ: American Graphic. p. 43. ISBN 0960229817.