Annibale Fagnola
Turin, 1865–1939
Annibale Fagnola (1865-1939) was a prolific Italian luthier active in Turin from 1894, known for his exceptional copies of instruments by Pressenda, Rocca, and Guadagnini. A pupil of M. Rinaldi, Fagnola's skill in replicating the materials and techniques of original masters made his copies difficult to distinguish from the originals, even for experts. His instruments, often featuring a fine golden orange to red hued varnish, were imported to London and regularly appeared in salerooms. He typically included his own label alongside a facsimile of the original and signed his instruments on the interior.
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
85 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Lot 61 | Bonhams | August 2026 | £85,250 |
| Violin | Guadagnini model, bearing the maker's label and signature to the left upper rib Lot 75 | Vichy | December 2025 | £76,735est. € 50.000-60.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1923, copia di Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. ... Lot 43 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2025 | £60,000est. £ 50,000-80,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and signature to the rib, also labelled G.F. Pressenda, craquelled table varnish Lot 70 | Vichy | June 2025 | £75,764est. € 50.000-60.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit, Taurini anno Domini 1925, and Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. ... Lot 171 | Tarisio | January 2024 | £88,783est. € 100.000-150.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1927, also bearing a facsimile Pressenda label Lot 33 | Ingles & H. | January 2024 | £105,000est. £ 90,000-130,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1924 and Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. ... Lot 194 | Tarisio | November 2023 | £95,192est. $ 100,000-150,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1923, also labelled Pressenda, Turin 1827, signed Lot 61 | Tarisio | October 2023 | £106,200est. £ 70,000-100,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1931 AFT, inscribed Annibale Fagnola Fecit ... Lot 51 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2023 | £90,000est. £ 70,000-100,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola Fecit Taurini anno Domini 1905, and Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. ... Lot 69 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2023 | £72,000est. £ 30,000-50,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit, Taurini anno Domini 1936, inscribed Annibale Fagnola Fecit Torino ... Lot 129 | Tarisio | October 2023 | £115,042est. € 100.000-150.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1929, signed to the label Lot 119 | Tarisio | March 2023 | £99,354est. € 95.000-150.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini Anno Domini 1928 and Joseph Rocca fecit Taurini anno ... Lot 130 | Tarisio | June 2022 | £94,011est. $ 100,000-150,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1929 and Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. ... Lot 180 | Tarisio | November 2021 | £97,829est. $ 100,000-150,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit, Taurini anno domini 1923, AFT, and Joannes Franciscus Pressenda ... Lot 157 | Tarisio | October 2020 | £106,200est. £ 80,000-100,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit, Taurini anno Domini 1929, 1.3.29, Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. ... Lot 10 | Tarisio | May 2020 | £103,661est. $ 80,000-120,000 |
| Violin | Bernard Millant collection, illustrated in Liuteria Italiana by Eric Blot vol.4 pp.280-281 and in Eila 1992 Lot 308 | Vichy | November 2019 | £75,987est. € 45.000-50.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. Raphael, fecit Taurini anno Domini 1840 Lot 198 | Tarisio | May 2019 | £93,156est. $ 70,000-100,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit, Taurini anno Domini 1911 Lot 48 | Tarisio | February 2019 | £72,244est. $ 40,000-60,000 |
| Violin | Millant collection, Pressenda model, bearing the maker's and Pressenda labels Lot 187 | Vichy | December 2018 | £107,267est. € 45.000-50.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit, Taurini anno domini 1932, and Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q. ... Lot 171 | Tarisio | June 2018 | £84,000est. £ 50,000-80,000 |
| Violin | Bernard Millant collection, labelled Annibale Fagnola and Pressenda Lot 52 | Vichy | November 2017 | £92,928est. € 45.000-50.000 |
| Violin | Bernard Millant collection, bearing the maker's signature to the upper rib Lot 67 | Vichy | November 2017 | £103,488est. € 45.000-50.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Joannes Franciscus Pressenda q Raphael, fecit Taurini anno domini 1821 Lot 174 | Tarisio | June 2017 | £53,100est. £ 45,000-65,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1931 AFT, inscribed Annibale Fagnola Fecit ... Lot 21 | Ingles & Hayday | October 2016 | £66,000est. £ 40,000-60,000 |
| Violin | Pressenda model, labelled Fagnola and Pressenda Lot 275 | Vichy | June 2015 | £50,801est. € 50.000-60.000 |
| Violin | After Rocca, labelled Joseph Rocca fecit Taurini anno Domini 1848 IHS Lot 582 | Brompton’s | June 2015 | £72,000est. £ 60,000-80,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1927, 3.12.27, also labelled Joannes Franciscus ... Lot 126 | Tarisio | June 2015 | £78,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Hannibal Fagnola fecit Taurini anno Domini 1902, also labelled Joannes Franciscus ... Lot 57 | Tarisio | March 2015 | £70,800est. £ 60,000-90,000 |
| Violin | Violin, 1922 Lot 166 | Boisseau | November 2014 | £49,577est. € 50.000-60.000 |
| Violin | Pressenda model, labelled Fagnola and Pressenda, signed to the upper rib Lot 275 | Vichy | June 2013 | £77,520est. € 45.000-50.000 |
| Violin | Guadagnini model, labelled Fagnola and Guadagnini, signed to the rib Lot 71 | Lucien | May 2013 | £27,829est. € 25.000-30.000 |
| Violin | Violin, 1930 Lot 61 | Bonhams | May 2013 | £85,250est. £ 40,000-60,000 |
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and signature Lot 175 | Vichy | June 2012 | £58,226est. € 45.000-50.000 |
| Violin | After Cappa, labelled Jofredus Cappa fecit, Salutiis 1714, inscribed Annibale Fagnola Fecit Torino 1930 Lot 65 | Brompton’s | June 2012 | £48,000est. £ 40,000-60,000 |
| Violin | After Stradivari, unlabelled Lot 184 | Brompton’s | March 2012 | £48,000est. £ 40,000-60,000 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Turin, 1900 c. | — | January 2011 | £55,200 |
| Violin | Turin, 1928 | — | January 2011 | £56,010 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm | — | January 2011 | £115,250 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Turin, 1928 | — | January 2011 | £46,850 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm 1900 c. Attributed to | — | January 2011 | £4,800 |
| Violin | 35.3 cm Turin, 1900 c. | — | January 2011 | £21,850 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Turin, 1925 c. | — | January 2011 | £30,955 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Turin, 1930 | — | January 2010 | £58,207 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Attributed to | — | January 2010 | £2,280 |
| Violin | 35.3 cm Turin, 1928 | — | January 2010 | £33,600 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Turin, 1925 | — | January 2010 | £61,250 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Turin, 1900 c. | — | January 2010 | £43,200 |
| Violin | 35.1 cm 1880 Ascribed to | — | January 2010 | £9,237 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Turin 1922 | — | January 2009 | £65,341 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Turin, 1914 (some table restoration) | — | January 2009 | £47,191 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm 20th C. Ascribed to | — | January 2009 | £5,625 |
| Violin | 35.3 cm Italy, 20th C. Ascribed to | — | January 2008 | £13,736 |
| Violin | 35.3 cm Turin, 1922, after "Pressenda" | — | January 2008 | £48,500 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Turin, 1926 | — | January 2007 | £42,500 |
| Violin | 35.3 cm Turin, 1906 | — | January 2007 | £36,004 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Turin, 1922 | — | January 2007 | £35,349 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Turin, 1924 | — | January 2006 | £39,856 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm 20th C. Attributed to | — | January 2006 | £6,000 |
| Violin | Turin, 1929 | — | January 2005 | £35,300 |
| Violin | Turin, 1921 | — | January 2005 | £41,859 |
| Violin | Turin, 1915 | — | January 2005 | £61,351 |
| Violin | 1900 c. Probably by | — | January 2005 | £10,990 |
| Violin | Turin, 1900 c. | — | January 2005 | £28,800 |
| Violin | Turin, 1928 | — | January 2004 | £38,400 |
| Violin | Turin, 1932 | — | January 2004 | £21,949 |
| Violin | Turin, 1929 | — | January 2004 | £36,522 |
| Violin | Turin, 1925 | — | January 2004 | £33,600 |
| Violin | Turin, 1925 | — | January 2004 | £45,600 |
| Violin | 1925 | — | January 2003 | £25,563 |
| Violin | 1925 | — | January 2003 | £40,800 |
| Violin | 1933 | — | January 2002 | £35,850 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | January 2002 | £29,025 |
| Viola | 40.0 cm 1904 | — | January 2002 | £40,750 |
| Violin | 1929 | — | January 2001 | £50,709 |
| Violin | 1929 | — | January 2001 | £49,390 |
| Violin | 1925 | — | January 2000 | £43,661 |
| Violin | 1926 | — | January 2000 | £40,000 |
| Violin | 1928 | — | January 2000 | £41,100 |
| Violin | 1929 | — | January 1999 | £30,000 |
| Violin | 1931 | — | January 1998 | £43,700 |
| Violin | 1923 | — | January 1997 | £19,550 |
| Violin | 1890 c. | — | January 1997 | £31,050 |
| Violin | 1921 | — | January 1993 | £30,800 |
| Viola | 41.0 cm 1928 | — | January 1989 | £17,600 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Annibale Fagnola (1865-1939) was born in Montiglio, Italy, in 1865 and died in Turin in 1939. He was active in Turin from 1894, establishing himself independently from 1899 at 3 vicolo Scuderie Reali. Fagnola was a very prolific maker, specializing in copies of instruments by Pressenda, Rocca, and Guadagnini. His work was imported to London in considerable numbers from about 1905, and his instruments appeared regularly in salerooms after World War I., who reported in 1926, he had been offered about 15 "Pressendas" several years earlier by a dealer in Turin, only later realizing they were new and almost certainly by Fagnola. Fagnola himself generally inserted a label of his own alongside a facsimile of the original, though these have often been interfered with subsequently. His instruments are usually signed on the interior.
Characteristics
- Specialization
- Annibale Fagnola specialized in creating copies of instruments by renowned makers such as Pressenda, Rocca, and Guadagnini.
- Technique
- Coming from the same tradition as the makers he imitated, Fagnola was able to utilize similar materials and techniques, making it difficult for many experts and dealers to distinguish between his copies and the originals.
- Varnish
- His instruments feature a fine golden orange to red hued varnish.
- Annibale Fagnola
fece Turino 1902John Dilworth - Hannibal Fagnola, fecit
Taurini anno Domini 1904John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: Annibale Fagnola was a pupil of M. Rinaldi.
- Assistants: Some anonymous copies of Fagnola's instruments that appeared in the late 20th century were possibly the work of a late pupil and assistant, Angelo Fasciolo.
- Market Value: Ironically, since Fagnola's work has become valued in itself, many anonymous copies of his instruments began to appear in the late 20th century.
- Market Presence: His work was imported to London in considerable numbers from about 1905, appearing regularly in salerooms after World War I.
Further Information
- Workshop Location: Annibale Fagnola established his independent workshop from 1899 at 3 vicolo Scuderie Reali in Turin.
- Labeling: Fagnola generally inserted a label of his own alongside a facsimile of the original, and his instruments are usually signed on the interior. Examples of his labels include "Annibale Fagnola / fece Turino 1902" and "Hannibal Fagnola, fecit / Taurini anno Domini 1904".
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
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
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