Annibale Fagnola

John Dilworth

FAGNOLA, Annibale Born 1865 Montiglio, died 1939 Turin Italy. Active in Turin from 1894. Pupil of M. Rinaldi. Established independently from 1899 at 3 vicolo Scuderie Reali. Very prolific maker, specialising in copies of Pressenda, Rocca, and Guadagnini. Coming from the same tradition he was able to make use of similar materials and techniques to those of the makers he imitated to the extent that distinguishing between the copy and the originals became difficult for many experts and dealers. His work was imported to London in considerable numbers from about 1905, appearing regularly in salerooms after World War I. In 1926 Alfred Hill reported that he had several years earlier been offered 15 or so ‘Pressendas’ by a dealer in Turin, realising only later that they were new and almost certainly by Fagnola. Fagnola himself generally inserted a label of his own alongside a facsimile of the original, but these have often been interfered with subsequently. Usually signed on the interior. Fine golden orange to red hued varnish. Ironically, since Fagnola’s work has become valued in itself, many anonymous copies of his instruments began to appear in the late 20th century, some of which were possibly the work of a late pupil and assistant, Angelo Fasciolo. Annibale Fagnola / fece Turino 1902 Hannibal Fagnola, fecit / Taurini anno Domini 1904