Definition

Noun 1. A violin made by a member of the Guarneri family: A stringed musical instrument of the violin family, renowned for its craftsmanship and sound quality, created by the Guarneri family of Italian luthiers. 2. A member of the Guarneri family of violin makers: Refers specifically to an individual artisan from this famous family.

Examples

• The soloist performed on a priceless Guarnerius from the 18th century.
• This instrument is not a Stradivarius but a Guarnerius, crafted by Giuseppe Guarneri.
• The auction featured a Guarnerius made by Andrea Guarneri, the family's founder.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in the context of art history, musicology, and high-value auctions to denote exceptional quality and provenance.
• It can function as a proper adjective, as in "a Guarnerius violin," though "Guarneri" is also commonly used adjectivally.

Variants and Related Words

• Guarneri: The more common modern spelling for the family name, often used interchangeably with "Guarnerius," especially when referring to the makers themselves.
• del Gesù: An epithet for Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri (1698-1744), the most famous member of the family, whose instruments are often labeled "Joseph Guarnerius del Gesù." Violins by "del Gesù" are among the most coveted.

Synonyms

• Violin: The general term for the instrument.
• Fiddle (informal): A colloquial term for a violin.

Different Meanings

The word "Guarnerius" specifically denotes violins (or their makers) from a single, historically significant family. It is not a generic term for any violin or maker. Its meanings are: 1. The physical instrument (a violin). 2. The person who made it (a luthier from the Guarneri family).

Notes

• "Guarnerius" is the Latinized form of the Italian surname "Guarneri."
• Instruments by the Guarneri family, particularly those by Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù," are considered equal in prestige to those by Antonio Stradivari.

Noun

1. a violin made by a member of the Guarneri family
2. founder of a family of Italian violin makers (1626?-1698)
3. Italian violin maker and grandson of Andrea Guarneri (1687?-1745)