Historic Guitar Makers of the Sevilla School
These biographies are works in progress. If you have additional materials, information, sources, photographs, or corrections you wish to share, please contact me. (Reference Works)
Antonio Demas Montsalves (Sevilla, active c. 1905-1943)
|
|
Antonio Demas Montsalves was a guitar maker in Sevilla in the first half of the 20th century. He was apparently trained by Enrique Bergali Alonso who had his workshop at Calle Sierpes, 65 in Sevilla, and died about 1905, and Antonio inherited his workshop and continued in business there until his death around 1943. The shop was then taken over by Francisco Mellado Demans. Over the years the Casa Demas evolved into a music store dealing in guitars and other instruments. In 1998, the Casa Damas S.L. was at Calle Sierpes 61. |
Joseph de Frías (Sevilla, active c. 1775-1800)
Joseph de Frías was active in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. He seems to have lived in Sevilla, and probably late in his career in Cádiz. He was among the first makers to use fan bracing.
Ignacio de los Santos (Sevilla, active c. 1790s)
Ignacio de los Santos, a luthier from Sevilla he was active at the end of the eighteenth century. Unlike the instruments made in Cádiz, his instruments did not use fan bracing. His shop was at Calle Carpintería, 26, Sevilla.
Manuel Gutiérrez Martínez (Sevilla, b.1773-d.1857)
Manuel Gutiérrez Martínez was born in Sevilla in 1773. As his father was a silversmith, it is uncertain where Manuel learned his trade. Over the course of his long carrier in Sevilla Manuel had a number of workshops. In 1844, his workshop was at Calle Cerrageria 44. In 1845-46, it was at Calle Cerrageria 35. In 1847-48, he was at Ballestilla 10. In 1849, he moved to Cerrageria 36, a few doors away from no. 32, where Antonio de Torres worked from 1856-1868. Manuel shared this shop with María Dolores Gómez Sánchez (b. 1805-d.1867), his apprentice and disciple who had joined his shop in the 1840s. He never married, and when he died in 1857, María Dolores Gómez Sánchez took over his shop, and continued building under his label until 1867. As Sr. Gómez Sánchez never married, with his death the shop disappeared.
Alonso Merino (Sevilla, active c. 1900)
|
|
Alonso Merino
was a maker in Sevilla at the beginning of the twentieth century. He had his
shop at Calle O'Donnel 17, Sevilla from 1895-1896, then moved in 1897 to
O'Donnel 13, and relocated in No. 18, on the same street in 1898 where he
continued until at least 1903. In addition to guitarras, his labels
advertise that he made Bandurrias. One of this guitars built in 1900 is
listed in the collection of Felix Manzanero.
(Photo Courtesy of Felix Manzanero) |
Diego Salazar y Soto (Sevilla, active c. 1830s-1860s)
Diego Salazar was born in 1807. He was trained by his father, Manuel Salazar, a guitar maker active in Sevilla around first quarter of the nineteenth century. Like many makers in Sevilla of the period, in the 1840s Diego seems to have had a shop on the Calle Carpintería at no. 47. In the 1860s, he seems to have moved to Calle Cuna 30, and was working with his son, Rafael Salazar Grajales until at least 1868.
Francisco Sanguino (Sevilla, active c. 1750s-1780s)
Although little is know about this maker, he seems to have been a famous maker in his own time, and his guitars are earliest known to use fan bracing. Five of his guitars are know to have survived, as well as two cellos. His work was important to the evolution of the modern guitar. It is probable that he trained the Pagés.
José Serrano (Sevilla, active c. 1840s-1850s)
José Serrano, a guitar maker from Sevilla was active in the mid-nineteenth century. His guitars used a very simple system of fan bracing. His label gives his address as Calle Carpintería, no. 26, Sevilla.
Cristóbal Soto Sánchez (Sevilla, b. c. 1869, active 1890-1900)
Cristóbal Soto Sánchez was the son of Manuel Soto y Solares and was born in Sevilla around 1869. He seems to have been active as a guitar maker in the 1890s and worked with his father at Calle Cerrajeria No. 7. That he was not his father's successor suggests that he may have died before his father.
Joaquín Soto y Solares (Sevilla, b. 1843, active 1860s).
Joaquín Soto y Solares was born in 1843 and was the second son of Manuel María de Soto Castaňón, and worked with his father at Calle Cuna 19.
Manuel María de Soto Castaňón (Sevilla, b. circa 1800 -d. 1878)
Born around the beginning of the century, the son of Manuel María de Soto, a guitar maker also in Sevilla. He probably was trained by his father. Several address are associate with him in the 1830s, he seems to have been at Calle Carpintería No. 19. In the 1860s, he apparently was at Calle Cuna 19, but at his death he was at No. 41 on the same street. He had at least two sons who followed him as guitar makers: Manuel Soto y Solares and Joaquin Soto y Solares.
Manuel Soto y Solares (Sevilla, b. 1839- d.1906)
|
|
Manuel Soto y Solares was a luthier
active in Sevilla during the second half of the nineteenth century. He was the
son of Manuel de Soto Castaňón, and was trained by his father. His workshop
moved around on the Calle Cerrageria, the same street where Antonio
de Torres also had his shop, being first at No. 36, then at No. 4, and finally
at number 7. Manuel Soto y Solares workshop evolved into a guitar factory
that continued to produce instruments well into this century. Although
Manuel's son, Cristóbal Soto Sánchez, followed in his footsteps as a
luthier, it was his daughters, Francisca and Rosa de Soto who took over the
business upon his death. Photograph courtesy of Richard Bruné. |
José Tejada y Soto. (b.c. 1890 active c. 1910-1930s)
José Tejada Soto, the son of Francisca de Soto y Sánchez, and grandson of Manuel Soto y Solares was born around 1890, and grew up in the shop at Cerrageria No 7. About 1911, the shop moved to the Calle Federico de Castro, No 59; and he worked there with his mother until he took over in 1917. He advertised he was the successor of Manuel Soto y Solares, and continued in business until at least 1933.
| Zavaleta's Home Page | Historic Makers Menu | Articles |
© copyright 1999