Antonio Marchese, born in 1992, is a young master luthier specializing in the construction of traditional classical guitars and the restoration of both historical and contemporary string instruments.
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He began his education at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria in Milan, where he spent six years honing his craft. The first four years focused on the construction of string instruments, the study of organology, and the fundamentals of chemistry and acoustic physics. The following two years were dedicated to specializing in the restoration of musical instruments.
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After completing his formal education with a critical and rigorous approach to his work, Antonio apprenticed under the renowned luthier Enrico Bottelli in Voghera (Pavia), gradually transitioning from apprentice to collaborator.
Under Bottelli’s mentorship, Antonio developed a deep interest in Spanish tradition instruments, which profoundly shaped his ongoing pursuit of both sound and aesthetic excellence.
Antonio Marchese
During his years of apprenticeship, Antonio Marchese participated as a builder and restorer in several significant international exhibitions and events, including "Caravaggio e Monteverdi: Sonar Strumenti e Figurare la Musica" at the Museo del Violino in Cremona in 2017, the cultural project Le Mani Sapienti promoted by the Antonio Carlo Monzino Foundation during Expo 2016 at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, and later at the LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura in Lugano.
In 2019, he opened his own workshop in Montafia (Asti), a small village in the picturesque hills of Monferrato in Piedmont.
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Inside his workshop, he passionately dedicates himself to building his own models and historical replicas of classical guitars, as well as repairing and adjusting modern instruments. The conservation or functional restoration of antique instruments is always accompanied by diagnostic photographic, scientific, and dimensional documentation, necessary for the creation of detailed reports.
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Special attention is given to the artistic and decorative aspects of his guitars, perfecting the techniques of handcrafted wooden mosaics and shellac varnishing over the years. Patience and precision are essential traits to ensure the success of this complex art form.
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From 2020 to 2024, he served as a varnishing teacher for plucked instruments at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria in Milan.
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Since 2024, he has been a classical guitar construction instructor at the Accademia di Liuteria Piemontese San Filippo in Turin.
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