Meet the Dipper Restorations Staff

Andrew Dipper - Founder

Andrew Dipper is a skilled restorer, historian, writer and sculptor. After studying sculpture and violinmaking in London and Cremona, he founded Andrew Dipper Restorations in London, England in 1975. He relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1990 where he joined Claire Givens Violins, Inc. as Vice President.

Examples of his restoration and conservation work can be found in many of the world's foremost public and private musical instrument collections, including: the Metropolitan Museum in New York; the Federal Musical Instrument Museum of Berlin; the National Music Museum, Vermillion, South Dakota; and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Mr. Dipper is a sought-after lecturer and has taught violinmaking and restoration in Cremona and London. He has also published important texts on various aspects of stringed instruments which include a translation of the violinmaking notes of Count Cozio de Salabue, the first collector of instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri and the patron of J. B. Guadagnini; a book on the theory of violin geometry and f-shaped sound-hole construction; and three articles in The Violin Society of America Journal on the works of the Italian makers, their varnishes and working methods. In addition, he edited the translation of The "Secrets" of Stradivari by S. Sacconi from Italian to English. He is currently working on a translation of La Chelonomié, ou, Le Parfait Luthier, compiled by the Abbé Sibire from the workshop notes of Francois Lupot. Detailed information can be found in the Articles/Publications section of this site.

Douglas Ritzinger - Dipper Workshop Assistant

Douglas Ritzinger joined the Dipper Restorations staff in June 2012 after graduating top in his class at Minnesota Southeast Technical where he studied Violin Repair as well as Guitar Building and Repair. Douglas had a 25 year career in engineering in the Twin Cities having graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Electrical Engineering. When not in the shop, he enjoys kayaking, kayak building, cross-country skiing, and all things music-related.

Rinchen Dorjee - Restoration Assistant