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. — John Dilworth
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Auction Price History
Highest auction price
45 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini San Jose, California 1950, branded to the lower rib and to the blocks A. Lanini Lot 129 | — | November 2025 | £3,847est. $ 4,000-6,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini San Jose, California 1915, branded twice to the blocks A. Lanini Cal. Lot 148 | — | November 2025 | £5,523est. $ 6,000-9,000 |
| Viola | Labelled Alfred Lanini San Jose, California 1953, branded to the lower rib and lower block A. Lanini Lot 46 | — | November 2023 | £2,856est. $ 4,000-6,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1952, repairs to table, sound post crack in table Lot 265 | — | December 2020 | £1,200est. £ 1,000-1,500 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California 1921, signed to the inside back, branded A. Lanini Cal. Lot 133 | — | May 2016 | £2,450est. $ 5,000-8,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1944 Lot 165 | — | December 2015 | £2,374est. $ 3,000-5,000 |
| Quartet | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1915, entered as a set in the Panama-Pacific Exposition Lot 164 | — | May 2015 | £15,248est. $ 20,000-30,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1954 Lot 176 | — | May 2015 | £3,050est. $ 3,000-5,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1954, branded to the endpin A. Lanini Lot 266 | — | February 2014 | £1,947est. $ 3,000-5,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1953 Lot 319 | — | August 2013 | £2,320est. $ 3,000-5,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1952 Lot 186 | — | May 2013 | £2,697est. $ 4,000-6,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1941 Lot 302 | — | February 2013 | £4,727est. $ 3,000-5,000 |
| Small Violin | 1/2 size violin, labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1935, branded to the lower rib A. Lanini Lot 69 | — | December 2012 | £818est. $ 1,000-1,500 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1920 Lot 266 | — | April 2012 | £4,449est. $ 6,000-9,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1931, branded to the lower rib Lot 267 | — | April 2012 | £4,449est. $ 6,000-9,000 |
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Lanini, San Jose, California, 1921, branded to the lower rib Lot 268 | — | April 2012 | £4,449est. $ 6,000-8,000 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm San Jose, 1959 | — | March 2011 | £3,600 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Milan, 1912 | — | October 2010 | £16,800 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm San Jose, 1940 | — | October 2009 | £1,705 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm San Jose, 1939 | — | October 2009 | £562 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm 1920 c. Probably by | — | October 2009 | £4,869 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm San Jose, 1945 | — | May 2009 | £2,135 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm San Jose, 1925 | — | May 2009 | £4,270 |
| Violin | 34.8 cm San Jose, 1936 | — | October 2008 | £1,808 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm San Jose, 1936 | — | October 2008 | £3,977 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm San Jose, 1953 | — | October 2008 | £3,254 |
| Violin | 36.2 m Attributed to | — | August 2008 | £1,258 |
| Violin | 34.0 cm San Jose, 1940 7/8 size | — | May 2008 | £1,796 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm San Jose, 1941 | — | May 2008 | £2,095 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm San Jose, 1917 | — | May 2007 | £1,728 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm San Jose, 1953 | — | May 2007 | £1,440 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm San Jose, 1953 Unvarnished | — | July 2006 | £624 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm San Jose, 1925 | — | May 2006 | £3,986 |
| Viola | 42.0 cm San Jose, 1950 | — | February 2006 | £2,485 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm San Jose, 1954 | — | February 2006 | £994 |
| Viola | 40.5 cm Milan, 1912 | — | November 2005 | £5,911 |
| Violin | San Jose, 1921 | — | October 2005 | £2,293 |
| Violin | San Jose, 1915 | — | October 2005 | £1,801 |
| Violin | San Jose, 1929 | — | May 2005 | £998 |
| Violin | San Jose, 1937 | — | May 2005 | £3,663 |
| Violin | San Jose, 1954 | — | May 2005 | £855 |
| Violin | San Jose, 1953 | — | October 2004 | £2,227 |
| Violin | San Jose, 1945 | — | May 2004 | £2,895 |
| Violin | 1953 | — | October 2003 | £1,866 |
| Violin | 1936 | — | May 2003 | £2,944 |
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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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