Giulio Ettore Degani

History

Giulio Ettore Degani (1875-1959) was born in Montagnana, Italy, in 1875 and passed away in Cincinnati, USA, in 1959. He was the son and pupil of Eugenio Degani. Giulio Ettore Degani worked alongside Giovanni Schwarz and Ettore Siega in the family atelier, which was known as 'Degani e figlio' from 1898, with Giulio taking overall charge. He assumed full control of the business after his father's death in 1901. Around 1915, he emigrated to the USA, initially working for Wurlitzer in New York. In 1918, he moved to Wurlitzer's Cincinnati workshop, but he departed in 1924 to establish his own business in the same city. From this point onward, he encountered numerous setbacks. For two years, he worked in New York with Jago Peternella under challenging conditions. He relocated to Atlantic City in 1934 but was unable to establish himself there, and a flood subsequently destroyed much of his tools and equipment. The following year, he returned to Cincinnati, where he worked in meager circumstances until he was compelled to close his business in 1952. For a few more years, he supported himself with unskilled labor. He never took on any pupils and worked unaided throughout his life.

Craft

• Style: Giulio Ettore Degani's work is generally considered less mannered than his father's, following a more classical form.
• Varnish: In his early years, he utilized a fine clear golden- or red-brown varnish.
• Materials: After approximately 1940, he increasingly incorporated pre-formed parts imported from German factories and employed cheap commercial varnishes.
• Labels: His labels are not chronologically reliable, as he used stocks of various pre-printed forms in an almost random order. When working in America, he often emphasized his Venetian origin. On occasion, he used a manuscript label belonging to his grandfather, Domenico. Examples of his labels include: 'Giulio Degani / Liutaio S. Fosca 2418, Venezia'; 'Degani Giulio di Eugenio / Fece in Venezia anno 189..'; and 'Degani Giulio di Eugenio / premiato con gran diploma d’onore in Milano / e medaglia d’oro in Torino / Anno 19.. / Fece in Venezia'.

Influence

• Training: Giulio Ettore Degani was a pupil of his father, Eugenio Degani.
• Collaborators: He worked alongside Giovanni Schwarz and Ettore Siega in the family workshop.
• Tradition: According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he worked in the style of his father.

Legacy

• Awards: He was awarded a gold medal in Turin in 1911 and a diploma in Milan in 1909.
• Recognition: He is regarded as an important maker of the modern Italian school.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Giulio Ettore Degani worked in Montagnana, Italy; Venice, Italy (S. Fosca 2418); New York, USA (for Wurlitzer and with Jago Peternella); Cincinnati, USA (for Wurlitzer and his own business); and Atlantic City, USA.

Summary

Giulio Ettore Degani (1875-1959) was an Italian luthier, son and pupil of Eugenio Degani. He took over the family business in Venice after his father's death in 1901. Emigrating to the USA around 1915, he worked for Wurlitzer in New York and Cincinnati before establishing his own business in Cincinnati in 1924. Despite facing significant challenges, including a flood that destroyed his tools, he was recognized as an important maker of the modern Italian school, earning a gold medal in Turin in 1911 and a diploma in Milan in 1909. His work, characterized by a more classical form and fine varnishes in his early career, later incorporated commercial parts and varnishes.