Giulio Ettore Degani
Cincinnati, Montagnana, Venice, 1875–1959
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.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
82 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Lot 49 | Aguttes | March 2026 | £19,503 |
| Violin | A violin by Giulio Degani, Venice, 1902 Lot 127 | Amati | October 2025 | £50,560est. £ 25,000-35,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano e medaglia d'oro in ... Lot 195 | — | October 2025 | £10,800est. £ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio premiato con gran diploma d'onore in ..., upper ribs possibly replaced Lot 107 | Tarisio | March 2024 | £39,857est. $ 25,000-40,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano ..., original fingerboard Lot 132 | — | March 2022 | £22,011est. $ 12,000-18,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano e medaglia d'oro in ... Lot 55 | — | November 2020 | £18,876est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, (premiato gran diploma d'onore in Milano), Fece in Venezia, Anno ... Lot 64 | — | July 2020 | £37,114est. $ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano, e medaglia d'oro in ... Lot 238 | — | March 2020 | £30,000est. £ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | A violin by Giulio Ettore Degani, Venice, 1897 Lot 401 | Amati | February 2019 | £31,600est. £ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label, minor back and ribs restorations Lot 75 | — | December 2018 | £38,482est. € 20.000-25.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, fece in Venezia, anno 1893, original fingerboard Lot 135 | — | May 2018 | £24,330est. $ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, Premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano, e medaglia d'oro in ... Lot 145 | — | May 2018 | £35,390est. $ 40,000-60,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio ... Anno 1910, Fece in Venezia Lot 136 | — | December 2017 | £16,520est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Giulio Degani, fu Eugenio, Joseph Guarnerius Model Lot 174 | — | November 2017 | £7,243est. $ 8,000-12,000 |
| Violin | Labelled EUGENIO DEGANI / Più ..., small weather cracks in top underneath tailpiece, inclusion in back Lot 193 | — | May 2017 | £16,786est. $ 12,000-18,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio (premiato gran diploma ..., one small crack and one worm hole in rib Lot 64 | — | March 2017 | £18,000est. £ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Bearing an original label Degani Giulio di Eugenio premiato con ..., original neck, excellent condition Lot 239 | — | March 2016 | £21,600est. £ 18,000-25,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano e medaglia d'oro in ... Lot 258 | — | November 2015 | £19,200est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio Di Eugenio premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano e medaglia d'oro in ... Lot 81 | — | November 2015 | £12,000est. £ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label, good condition Lot 472 | — | June 2015 | £7,883est. € 7.000-8.000 |
| Viola | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, Premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano e medaglia d'oro a ... Lot 92 | — | May 2015 | £19,060est. $ 25,000-40,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, premiato con gran diploma d'onore in Milano e medaglia d'oro in ... Lot 109 | — | October 2014 | £16,972est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Violin | Branded to the lower rib Giulio Degani Lot 236 | — | October 2014 | £7,504est. $ 6,000-9,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, (premiato gran diploma d'onore in Milano), Fece in Venezia, Anno ... Lot 285 | — | October 2014 | £29,516est. $ 35,000-55,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, Premiato con gran ..., of a red orange brown colour, use and wear Lot 38 | — | May 2014 | £10,625est. £ 12,000-18,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio (...) anno 1903 Fece in Venezia Lot 122 | — | March 2014 | £18,000est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, premiato con gran ..., of a golden orange brown colour, use and wear Lot 19 | — | October 2013 | £18,750est. £ 15,000-20,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Giulio Degani, Liutista, Premiato Con Medaglie D'oro In Europa ed America, Venezia S. ... Lot 215 | — | May 2013 | £8,477est. $ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Giulio Degani, Liutista Premiato con Medaglie d'Oro in ..., original fingerboard by the maker Lot 216 | — | May 2013 | £16,183est. $ 10,000-15,000 |
| Violin | Lot 57 | — | May 2013 | £25,000est. £ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | Bearing an original label dated 1898 Lot 303 | — | March 2013 | £30,000est. £ 18,000-25,000 |
| Small Violoncello | Bearing an illegible label Lot 106 | — | November 2012 | £24,967est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Giulio Degani, Liutista, Venezia S. Fosca, branded to the lower rib Giulio Degani Lot 292 | — | April 2012 | £8,899est. $ 12,000-18,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Degani Giulio di Eugenio, 1890 ... Lot 37 | — | April 2012 | £44,496est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Possibly Italian, early 20th C. Attributed to | — | November 2011 | £3,759 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Venice, 1911 | — | November 2011 | £22,555 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Venice, 1892 | — | October 2010 | £21,000 |
| Cello | 75.4 cm Venice, 1921 | — | October 2010 | £61,250 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Attributed to | — | June 2010 | £11,400 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Cincinnati, 1942 | — | April 2010 | £5,499 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Probably Cincinnati, 1920 c. Probably by | — | April 2010 | £13,355 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Venice, 1909 | — | April 2010 | £17,645 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Venice, 1930 c. | — | April 2010 | £13,809 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Venice, 1899 | — | March 2010 | £21,600 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Venice, 1899 | — | December 2009 | £21,600 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Venice, 1893 | — | October 2009 | £18,537 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Venice, 1889 | — | October 2009 | £15,300 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Venice, 1894 (restorations) | — | October 2009 | £19,200 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Venice, 1918 | — | March 2009 | £10,800 |
| Violin | 36.6 cm Venice, 1911 | — | March 2009 | £10,000 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Venice, 1896 | — | June 2008 | £16,302 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Venice, 1896 | — | March 2008 | £29,300 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Venice 1899 | — | March 2008 | £14,400 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Ascribed to | — | October 2007 | £6,283 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Venice, 1913 | — | March 2007 | £18,400 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Venice, 1898 | — | March 2007 | £20,700 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Venice, 1903 | — | November 2006 | £18,044 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Venice, 1900 c. | — | November 2006 | £21,051 |
| Violin | Venice, 1900 | — | June 2005 | £21,332 |
| Violin | Venice, 1907 | — | June 2005 | £7,647 |
| Violin | Venice, 1910 | — | July 2004 | £15,535 |
| Violin | Venice, 1930 c. Probably by | — | May 2004 | £5,637 |
| Violin | 1903 | — | October 2003 | £15,635 |
| Violin | 1898 | — | November 2002 | £10,575 |
| Violin | 1899 | — | September 2001 | £15,950 |
| Violin | 1895 | — | September 2001 | £14,375 |
| Violin | 1893 | — | November 2000 | £9,200 |
| Violin | 1914 | — | November 2000 | £12,394 |
| Violin | 1898 | — | November 2000 | £19,550 |
| Violin | 1892 | — | June 2000 | £12,650 |
| Violin | 1915 | — | May 2000 | £13,333 |
| Violin | 1893 | — | March 2000 | £13,822 |
| Violin | 1895 | — | November 1998 | £14,375 |
| Violin | 1894 | — | November 1998 | £12,650 |
| Violin | 1915 | — | October 1998 | £6,555 |
| Violin | 1907 | — | April 1998 | £10,350 |
| Violin | 1919 | — | May 1997 | £3,214 |
| Violin | 1897 | — | November 1996 | £18,400 |
| Violin | 1907 | — | November 1995 | £10,925 |
| Viola | 39.4 cm 19-- | — | November 1989 | £6,600 |
| Cello | 1899 | — | June 1988 | £11,000 |
| Violin | 18-- | — | July 1985 | £4,536 |
No results match those filters.
Maker Overview
Life
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.
Characteristics
- 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'.
- Giulio Degani
Liutaio S. Fosca 2418, Venezia. Degani Giulio di Eugenio
Fece in Venezia anno 189..John Dilworth - Degani Giulio di Eugenio
premiato con gran diploma d’onore in Milano
e medaglia d’oro in Torino
Anno 19..
Fece in VeneziaJohn Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- 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:, he worked in the style of his father.
- 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.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
DEGANI, Giulio Ettore Born 1875 Montagnana, Italy, died 1959 Cincinnati USA. Son and pupil of Eugenio Degani, above. Worked alongside Giovanni Schwarz and Ettore Siega in the family atelier, known as ‘Degani e figlio’ from 1898, with Giulio taking overall charge. Took over the business entirely after the death of his father in 1901. Emigrated to the USA c.1915, working initially for Wurlitzer in New York. Moved to the firm’s Cincinnati workshop in 1918, but left to start his own business in the same city in 1924. From this point on, he suffered many reverses. For two years he worked in New York with Jago Peternella in difficult conditions. Moved in 1934 to Atlantic City, but was unable to establish himself. A flood destroyed much of his tools and equipment. The following year he returned to Cincinnati, working in meagre circumstances until forced to close in 1952. For a few years more he sustained himself with unskilled labour. He never took any pupils himself and worked unaided all his life. Awarded gold medal in Turin 1911 and diploma in Milan 1909. An important maker of the modern Italian school. Generally less mannered work than his father, following a more classical form with fine clear golden- or red-brown varnish in early years. After c.1940 he made increasing use of pre-formed parts imported from German factories and cheap commercial varnishes. His labels are not chronologically reliable. He used stocks of various pre-printed forms in almost random order, emphasising his Venetian origin when working in America. Used a manuscript label of his grandfather Domenico on occasion. Giulio Degani / Liutaio S. Fosca 2418, Venezia. Degani Giulio di Eugenio / Fece in Venezia anno 189.. Degani Giulio di Eugenio / premiato con gran diploma d’onore in Milano / e medaglia d’oro in Torino / Anno 19.. / Fece in Venezia [Rosengard]
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Schüler seines Vaters, (dessen Geschäftstheilhaber er jetzt ist. Er arbeitet
im Stile seines Vaters.
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