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Violin Maker Alessandro Mezzadri (Also spelled Alessandro Mezari, Alessandro Messadri, Alessandro Mezzadie and Allesander Mezzadie) was born around 1653 and died in Ferrara in 1729 at the age of 76. He is thought to be the founder of the Ferrara school of violin making. Mezzadri was described by Ferrarese writer Luigi Napoleone Cittadella in 1864 as a suonatore di violino mediocre, ma accellente in fabbricarli ('an average violin player, but excellent at making them'). Alessandro Mezzadri was not only an excellent violin maker, but was also a violinist, singer and organist. Mezzadri lived with his wife, Anna Amadori, in the parish of San Salvatore (Ferrara) until death in 1729. Though influenced by Amati, Mezzadri was obviously more influenced by the school of Brescia (Gaspar Da Salo and Maggini) by than that of Cremona. Vuillaume writes that Alessandro Mezzadri was an imitator of Nicolo Amati (1596-1694) but whos violins are in some ways similar to that of Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737). The statement that he was a pupil of Stradivari has not been confirmed. Karel Jalovek describes Mezzadri violins as, "Careful workmanship. Instruments of fine tone. Narrow small sound holes in the manner of Amati. Tastefully cut scrolls." Mezzadri violins are quite rare. There are thought to be about 100 of this makers violins in existence. According to Hill in their records from 1910, there exists a few violins made by Mezzadri, yet they remain largely unrecognised, having been marketed under more renowned labels (most by Mezzadri himself). However many of his violins were labeled Joseph Guarnerius filius Andrae, Joseph Guarnerius Andreae nepos , Peter Guarneri , Francesco Ruggieri and his violins are often mistaken for works of the Guarneri family. Renowned Luthier and violin maker Florian Leonhard describes Mezzadri's work as of "Remarkable quality." According to Florian Leonard, "Mezzadri's style was not formally associated with the Cremonese school, nevertheless his work exhibited a unique style that rivaled that of the eminent masters (Guarneri, Stradavari, Rugeri)." Henry Dykes writes,"Mezzadri's violin tone gives a melange which one seldom finds in old Italian violins-a delightful cantabile Italian quality, combined with resonant virility." The record price for an Allesandro Mezzadri was $389,000 USD