Frank Passa
New York, San Francisco, 1916–2001
2001 Santa Rosa, California USA. Violin and bow maker. Pupil of S. F. Sacconi. Worked for Henry Ruping in Brooklyn 1938-1940. Studied bow making with Bernard Millant and Emile Ouchard c.1939. Established independently in New York 1940-1951 with a break for military service in 1943. — John Dilworth
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
34 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, round stick stamped F. Passa S. F. Lot 41 | Tarisio | June 2023 | £3,083est. $ 2,000-3,000 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, round stick stamped F. Passa S.F. Lot 75 | Tarisio | June 2021 | £2,006est. £ 1,500-2,200 |
| Violin Bow | Arnold R. Bone collection, gold mounted, round stick stamped F. PASSA S.F. Lot 171 | Skinners | November 2019 | £4,310est. $ 2,000-3,000 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, round stick stamped F. Passa S.F. Lot 63 | Tarisio | October 2016 | £2,760est. £ 1,500-2,200 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, round stick unstamped, imitation tortoiseshell frog Lot 64 | Tarisio | October 2016 | £2,400est. £ 2,000-3,000 |
| Viola Bow | Gold mounted, signed, gold face Lot 327 | Vichy | June 2016 | £1,697est. € 1.000-1.500 |
| Viola Bow | Gold mounted, octagonal stick stamped F. Passa S.F. Lot 28 | Tarisio | June 2016 | £2,400est. £ 1,500-2,200 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, round stick, tortoiseshell frog, gold slide slightly longer that frog length Lot 87 | Tarisio | June 2016 | £2,400est. £ 2,000-3,000 |
| Viola Bow | Gold mounted, round stick stamped F. Passa SF Lot 543 | Brompton’s | June 2015 | £2,160est. £ 1,500-2,000 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, round stick stamped F. Passa S.F. Lot 234 | Brompton’s | October 2014 | £1,320est. £ 800-1,200 |
| Viola Bow | Gold mounted, stamped Passa SF, faux tortoiseshell frog Lot 62 | Tarisio | November 2012 | £1,648est. $ 2,500-4,000 |
| Violin Bow | Gold mounted, stamped F. Passa S. F. Lot 107 | Tarisio | April 2012 | £1,557est. $ 1,500-2,200 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 64 g. | — | January 2011 | £1,020 |
| Viola Bow | G/E 62.0 g. Attributed to "Reid B. Kowallis" | — | January 2010 | £1,644 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 57 g. | — | January 2009 | £1,348 |
| Viola Bow | G/E 73 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £926 |
| Viola Bow | G/E 72 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £371 |
| Viola Bow | G/E 77 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £371 |
| Viola Bow | G/E 71 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £988 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 61 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £865 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 61 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £741 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 61 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £741 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 62 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £803 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 62 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £1,050 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 61 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £618 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 61 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £1,112 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 62 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £988 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 61 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £988 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 61 g. San Francisco | — | January 2008 | £1,050 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 62 g. Workshop of | — | January 2006 | £1,265 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 62 g. | — | January 2005 | £840 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 63 g. unstamped Workshop | — | January 2004 | £539 |
| Violin Bow | G/E 63 g. stamped Workshop | — | January 2004 | £741 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60 g. | — | January 1996 | £451 |
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Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
PASSA, Frank Born 1916 New York, d.2001 Santa Rosa, California USA. Violin and bow maker. Pupil of S. F. Sacconi. Worked for Henry Ruping in Brooklyn 1938-1940. Studied bow making with Bernard Millant and Emile Ouchard c.1939. Established independently in New York 1940-1951 with a break for military service in 1943. Worked part-time for Emile Herrmann 1948-1951 under Sacconi. Joined Wurlitzer with Sacconi 1951-1958. Established independently in San Francisco 1958-1999. Made no bows after 1958, but concentrated on repair, restoration, and teaching. Bows branded: F. PASSA S. F. [Wenberg]
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