Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 1765
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Antonio Bagatella
The Violin
Antonio Bagatella made this violin in Padua around 1765. It is an excellent example of a rare maker’s craftsmanship. His instruments seldom come to market, so this is a notable piece of 18th-century Italian making.
The tone is warm and sweet. This Antonio Bagatella violin has the gentle, singing quality that players look for in older Italian instruments. The back measures 35.0 cm.
Bagatella made it during the years he worked alongside the violinist Giuseppe Tartini. So this Antonio Bagatella violin comes from his most productive period. His ideas about construction ran ahead of their time.
For a collector, the appeal is unusual. Bagatella also wrote one of the first books on violin making. Few instruments carry that kind of documented thinking behind them. This Antonio Bagatella violin pairs that history with a lovely, warm sound.
The Maker
Antonio Bagatella was born in Padua in 1716. In 1782 he published his rules for the construction of violins, violas, cellos and basses, one of the earliest treatises on the craft. In it he explains that he taught himself. He had worked as a maker since the age of twenty, and he finished his research by 1748.
Tartini guided him in that work. The two were associates for thirty years, until Tartini died in Padua in 1770.
Few makers of his time wrote their methods down. Because Bagatella did, he holds a special place in the history of the craft. Every surviving Antonio Bagatella violin therefore interests collectors as well as players.
Certification
Chris Reuning 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.