Lutherie
JOSEPH MARQUÈS
IN FOCUS A close look at the work of great and unusual makers
WRITTEN BY JORDI PINTO
The brothers Joseph and Salvador Marquès were born in Mataró, 18 miles north of Barcelona, to a family of cabinet makers. In the record books of the Brotherhood of St John the Baptist they are registered as guitar makers, together with many other trades relating to woodworking. They made an unknown number of instruments, which are of less importance than the ones of their contemporaries Joan Guillamí, Joseph Massaguer and Salvador Bofill. Currently there is only one known surviving violin by Joseph, in a private collection, and there is only half a violin back made by Salvador, which is kept at the Museu de la Música in Barcelona. (Conveniently, it is the half that still retains the label.)