In the 17th century, the small town of Salle in the Abruzzi region of Italy was considered one of the string centers in Europe. Local church records reveal that the most important string manufacturing families were Berti, Dorazio, Ruffini and MARI. Famous throughout Europe for fabricating the finest gut strings for lutes, guitars and violins, their craft also included constructing some of the earliest strings for wire strung instruments.

 

Established in the 1640's in Salle, the Mari family became one of the suppliers of violin strings to both Amati and Stradivari in Cremona. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries the "House of Mari" also operated a metal foundry that manufactured church bells.

 

In 1913, the two brothers, Emilio and Olinto Mari left the family business to seek new opportunities in America. They settled in New York City where they produced both gut and steel strings in their small apartment in lower Manhattan. As the word spread among musicians in the area, so did the popularity of their product. A local music store grew very fond of the high quality hand made strings the two brothers produced, and made them an offer to help expand. The first factory opened in the year 1914 on 170 Fifth Avenue. The American dream for the two young immigrants had arrived.  The business expanded in 1922 with the opening of a second factory in Lanciano, Abruzzi.

 

At the 1927 "First Exposition Trade Show" of Tripoli, North Africa, the Italian government awarded the "Gold Medal Diploma" to the company for their dedication and excellence as manufacturers. As a leading producer of high quality strings for the entire violin family including the harp, E. & O. Mari offered both " La Preferita" and the "La Bella Brand" of orchestral gut strings. Since the twenties the trade name " La Bella" has remained to describe a superior product. 

 

In 1937, with the outbreak of World War II on the horizon, E. & O. Mari decided to close their Italian factory. During the early Forties, the Manhattan operation moved to Long Island City, New York and remained there nearly forty years. Changing locations in 1981, the factory's present site is in Newburgh, New York.

 

Today E. & O. Mari/ La Bella Strings is still a family owned and operated company - passed from Olinto Mari to his daughter Elisabetta Mari and her son Richard Mari Cocco Jr., President and her grandson Eric Cocco, Vice-President. An advocate of the arts and music education worldwide- E. & O. Mari sponsors jazz and rock performance clinics, professional artist appearances and residencies. La Bella also supports many guitar festivals and competitions by subsidizing scholarships and awards.