Amati > Makers Archive > L > Alfred Eugene Lanini

Alfred Eugene Lanini

Gonzales, Milan, San Jose, 1891–1956

Moved to San Jose in 1907. Studied violin making with Dr Walter Hill. Went to Milan to work with Romeo Antoniazzi c.1911, and also for Celeste Farotti. Returned to San Jose 1914. Established a shop in San Francisco 1917, but moved back to San Jose in the same year. Eminent American violin and bow ma\u{2026} — John Dilworth

Worked Gonzales, Milan, San Jose
Made Viola, Violin

Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£16,800

29 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
Violin35.6 cm San Jose, 1959March 2011£3,600
Violin36.0 cm Milan, 1912October 2010£16,800
Violin35.5 cm San Jose, 1940October 2009£1,705
Violin35.6 cm San Jose, 1939October 2009£562
Violin35.5 cm 1920 c. Probably byOctober 2009£4,869
Violin35.8 cm San Jose, 1945May 2009£2,135
Violin35.7 cm San Jose, 1925May 2009£4,270
Violin34.8 cm San Jose, 1936October 2008£1,808
Violin35.7 cm San Jose, 1936October 2008£3,977
Violin35.5 cm San Jose, 1953October 2008£3,254
Violin36.2 m Attributed toAugust 2008£1,258
Violin34.0 cm San Jose, 1940 7/8 sizeMay 2008£1,796
Violin35.6 cm San Jose, 1941May 2008£2,095
Violin35.4 cm San Jose, 1917May 2007£1,728
Violin35.5 cm San Jose, 1953May 2007£1,440
Violin35.5 cm San Jose, 1953 UnvarnishedJuly 2006£624
Violin35.7 cm San Jose, 1925May 2006£3,986
Viola42.0 cm San Jose, 1950February 2006£2,485
Violin35.7 cm San Jose, 1954February 2006£994
Viola40.5 cm Milan, 1912November 2005£5,911
ViolinSan Jose, 1921October 2005£2,293
ViolinSan Jose, 1915October 2005£1,801
ViolinSan Jose, 1929May 2005£998
ViolinSan Jose, 1937May 2005£3,663
ViolinSan Jose, 1954May 2005£855
ViolinSan Jose, 1953October 2004£2,227
ViolinSan Jose, 1945May 2004£2,895
Violin1953October 2003£1,866
Violin1936May 2003£2,944

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

LANINI, Alfred Eugene Born 1891 Gonzales, died 1956 San Jose, California USA. Moved to San Jose in 1907. Studied violin making with Dr Walter Hill. Went to Milan to work with Romeo Antoniazzi c.1911, and also for Celeste Farotti. Returned to San Jose 1914. Established a shop in San Francisco 1917, but moved back to San Jose in the same year. Eminent American violin and bow maker. Learned bow making from August Neuberger-Suess and Husson, c.1927-1928, and made about 100 bows up to c.1935 when he was forced to stop because of allergic reactions. Completed up to 600 instruments, including 60 violas and 25 cellos. Several violins modelled on his own Omobono and Stradivari instruments; Guarneri models after 1930. Clear spirit varnish of Antoniazzi recipe. Red and brown colouration prior to 1930; later orange-red. Also used local American timber after 1930. Branded internally and under the endpin: ‘A. Lanini’. Teacher of his sons, Henry and Paul, and Clarence Shaw in violin making, and of John Bolander in bow making. Manuscript label: Alfred Lanini / San Jose, California / 19..

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