Amati Violin Tops Skinner Auction Of Fine Musical Instruments
Boston, MA – A fine rare Italian violin by Hieronymus and Antonius Amati, Cremona 1608 took top honors in Skinner’s fall auction of Fine Musical Instruments on November 9. Expected to realize $80/100,000, the instrument surpassed that estimate, selling for $108,100. Commenting on the success, department director David Bonsey noted, "The brothers Amati violins are known for their elegant sound. Fashioned in the age of the Baroque, they are still unsurpassed in beauty and workmanship, with a sound of pure gold." The auction saw other successes, as well, and new record prices established.
The sale opened with a selection of fretted instruments, highlighted by an extremely rare Gibson Nick Lucas Model from 1928 that sailed past its estimate of $5/7,000 to $14,950. (Skinner held the previous record price of $6,325, established in May of this year.) This was the Gibson Company’s first design for a premier quality flat top guitar, and has been sought after ever since its introduction in 1927. This particular guitar was rare for its combination of a long neck (14 frets to the body), its back and sides of rare Brazilian Rosewood, and a bridge fitted with pins rather than the "trapeze" suspended tailpiece. The instrument was all original, never having been repaired or restored.
A fine and rare guitar by Elmer Stromberg of Boston, the "Master 400" model of 1947, sold for $48,300. Originally custom built for Steve Hester of the Larry Clinton Orchestra, this model is considered the "King of ‘Orchestral Guitars,’" according to Bonsey, and is known for its sound that projects over a jazz orchestra without amplification. Additional highlights from this portion of the sale included a venerable "New Yorker" model guitar by John D’Angelico from 1953. A stunning instrument with a natural "blonde" finish and a "cutaway" body allowing access to the high playing positions, it sold for $25,300. Other fretted instruments included a 1921 banjo by Fairbanks of Boston, with various parts missing but with a beautiful inlaid and carved neck. Estimated at $300-500, it fetched $4,600.
A fine selection of stringed instruments and bows followed, with several notable offerings. A significant world record price was achieved for a beautiful Gaetano Pollastri violin from 1935. This instrument was consigned by its original owner who commissioned it while studying at the Conservatory in Bologna. It was all original and never repaired or restored, and sold at $33,350. Also reaching a record price was a violin by Domenico Degani, 1886, that sold for $19,550. Degani was the father of the famous Eugenio Degani, who developed his own very recognizable style of violins. This instrument was bought from Rudolf Wurlitzer in 1945 by a single mother in New York, who paid him $28.00 per month until the purchase price was reached. It was sold at Skinner with a passbook listing all the monthly payments, with no interest. It also had one of the first certificates signed by Rembert Wurlitzer, before he took over the firm in 1947. An interesting violin from the School of Ceruti, c. 1800, fetched $41,400, well past its estimate of $18/22,000.
Other significant world records were achieved for French viola bows. A viola bow from the shop of J.B. Vuillaume sold for $18,400, a viola bow by Claude Thomassin for $9,775, and a viola bow by Louis Gillet for $2,415. A gold mounted viola bow by Jacques Audinot reached $5,750.
Skinner’s next auction of musical instruments will be held in Boston May 6, 2001. For more information, call David Bonsey at 978.779.6241, or fax 978.779.5144.