FONZO MUSEUM
COLLECTION

Battista Fabricatore (c. 1780–1816): A Romantic Guitar Maker of Naples

Battista Fabricatore was one of the most important Italian guitar makers of the early 19th century. Working in Naples, he helped guide the guitar’s transformation from the baroque five-course instrument into the six-string Romantic guitar. Instruments from around 1811 show his craftsmanship at its peak.

Fabricatore’s guitars are admired for their light construction, lyrical tone, and elegant Neapolitan design. They produce a sweet, intimate sound ideal for salon music and the expressive style of the Romantic era. He was among the early adopters of six single strings and fan bracing, both of which influenced later guitar evolution.

Visually, his guitars are refined and tasteful, often featuring slender bodies, spruce tops, and delicate Italian inlays. Though not overly ornate, they show artistic balance and careful detail.

Fabricatore’s work set the stage for later masters such as René Lacôte and Antonio de Torres. Today, surviving examples from the early 1800s, especially those dated 1811, are considered rare treasures, valued by historians, performers, and collectors for their beauty and their insight into the guitar’s early Romantic soul.