Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1905
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Annibale Fagnola
The Violin
Annibale Fagnola made this violin in Turin in 1905, and it survives in very good condition. The back is one piece of quarter-cut maple, with broad flames rising from the treble side to the bass. The ribs and scroll use similar wood.
The top is two pieces of medium-grain spruce under a reddish-orange varnish. This Annibale Fagnola violin dates from his early Turin years, just before the exhibition medals that launched his commercial success. The back measures 35.5 cm.
Collectors value the early instruments for their close study of the Turinese masters. Because it keeps both its condition and its certificate, this Annibale Fagnola violin stands out even among them.
For a player, the appeal is simpler. The sound has the focus and carrying power that the modern Italian school is known for. Also, the paperwork makes an instrument at this level far easier to insure and resell. This Annibale Fagnola violin was an outstanding example on every count.
The Maker
Annibale Fagnola lived from 1865 to 1939. He grew up one of ten children in a farming family in Montiglio, about fifty kilometers from Turin. He moved to Turin in 1894, and he set up his own workshop the following year with early help from the dealer Orazio Roggero.
In 1906 he won medals at the Genoa and Milan exhibitions. His early work follows Stradivari, Guadagnini, Pressenda and Rocca closely, and Pressenda stayed a strong influence throughout his career.
By 1930 the Hills and Beares in London and Wurlitzer in New York knew his work well. Today an Annibale Fagnola violin ranks among the finest of the modern Italian school. He worked consistently, and he chose materials of the highest quality, so his reputation has only grown.
Certification
Reuning and Son certified this instrument.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.