Eugenio Degani

History

Eugenio Degani (1842-1901) was born in Merlara in 1842 and died in Venice, Italy, in 1901. He was the son and pupil of Domenico Degani. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, Eugenio Degani was a pupil of his father from the age of 10. At 16, from 1856 to 1866, he trained in organ building with Domenico Malvestio in Montagnana. During the war of 1866, he made guns to sustain himself, utilizing his technical skills. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his early career and movements: John Dilworth states that Degani moved to Montagnana in 1868, where he was making violins from at least 1872, winning a gold medal at the Treviso Esposizione in that year. Lütgendorff, however, indicates that Degani became independent in his birthplace (Merlara) in 1877 as a violin maker. Degani later moved to Venice, with Dilworth citing 1888 and Lütgendorff stating 1887, where he remained until his death. He employed his nephew Giovanni Schwarz, Luigi Chiericato, and Ettore Siega in his workshop. When his son Giulio joined the business in 1898, the firm became known as 'Degani e figlio' or 'Eugenio Degani & Figlio'.

Craft

• Workmanship: Eugenio Degani was a very gifted craftsman whose instruments display individual flourishes and a very high standard of finish, as noted by John Dilworth.
• Design Elements: The edge channel on his instruments is narrow but deeply sunk, rising to a very sharp ridge. The purfling mitres are long, and sometimes the purfling is doubled to five strands of black/white/black/white/black. The pegbox sides are hollowed and brought to a very marked recurve at the lower edge, and the volutes are deeply undercut.
• Models: He often produced instruments of a large overall model, but also created more conventional imitations of Cremonese makers. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that he built according to his own model, featuring five purfling strands (three black and two white) and a specially carved scroll, while also copying old masters.
• Varnish: His instruments are characterized by a fine orange varnish. Lütgendorff praises his varnish, stating its composition was a secret.

Influence

• Training: Eugenio Degani was the son and pupil of Domenico Degani. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he was a pupil of his father from the age of 10. He also received training in organ building from Domenico Malvestio in Montagnana from 1856 to 1866.
• Teaching: Lütgendorff considers him an excellent teacher of his art.

Legacy

• Awards: Degani won numerous medals throughout his career. These include a gold medal at the Treviso Esposizione in 1872, and further medals at Paris in 1885 and 1900, Bologna in 1888, Turin in 1884, and Palermo in 1892, as documented by John Dilworth. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states he received more than 15 medals from exhibitions in Treviso, Rovigo, Milan, Arezzo, Naples, Turin, Paris, London, Chicago, Milan, Palermo, and Bologna.
• Family Business: His firm became 'Degani e figlio' or 'Eugenio Degani & Figlio' in 1898 when his son Giulio joined him.

Further Information

• Labels: Instruments by Eugenio Degani bear labels such as "Degani Eugenio / Venezia – Anno 18.." and "Eugenio Degani / piu volte premiato / medaglia d'oro / Venezia", as noted by John Dilworth.