Willie Wilkanowski
Brooklyn, New York, b. 1886
1920-1940 Boston & New York USA. Active from 1895. Emigrated to the USA 1920 and worked for Oliver Ditson in Boston, and from 1938 for Gretsch in New York. Said to have made 5,000 violins, 100 violas, and 30 guitars. Cremonese and personal models. Own amber-oil varnish. — John Dilworth
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
51 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearing the maker's label and brand, fair condition Lot 812 | — | December 2025 | £1,209est. € 1.000-1.200 | |
| Very good condition Lot 276 | — | November 2021 | £1,708est. CHF 1,500-2,000 | |
| Labelled Enrico Robella, Milano 1936, Copy of Ant. Stradivarius Lot 88 | — | February 2020 | £1,367est. $ 1,500-2,200 | |
| Bearing the maker's internal brand, replaced bass bar, repaired top cracks, touch-up to varnish Lot 260 | — | November 2019 | £455est. $ 400-600 | |
| Jerry Weene collection, bearing the maker's label n. 204, compound sound post crack to back Lot 345 | — | June 2019 | £828est. $ 400-600 | |
| Bearing the maker's label, multiple repaired top cracks, reglued back center seam, scratches and abrasions Lot 1117 | — | May 2018 | £361est. $ 600-800 | |
| Bearing the maker's label, button broken and reglued, minor top cracks, some damage to varnish Lot 33 | — | November 2017 | £789est. $ 800-1,200 | |
| Unlabelled, open seams, missing lower block, plate distortion Lot 126 | — | May 2017 | £216est. $ 400-600 | |
| Bearing the maker's label no. 302, two-piece back Lot 175 | — | November 2014 | £660est. $ 800-1,200 | |
| Labelled M. Wilkanowski, Violin Maker Brooklyn, NY, 1925, branded to the inside back M. Wilkanowski Lot 201 | — | June 2014 | £672est. $ 800-1,200 | |
| Branded to the inside back W. Wilkanowski ... Lot 225 | — | December 2012 | £1,116est. $ 1,000-1,500 | |
| Labelled W. Wilkanowski, 1940, #202 Lot 226 | — | December 2012 | £818est. $ 1,000-1,500 | |
| Bearing the maker's label Lot 345 | — | April 2012 | £721est. $ 1,800-2,400 | |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Brooklyn, c. 1931 | — | December 2011 | £774 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm New York, 1943 | — | November 2011 | £443 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Brooklyn, 1920 c. | — | December 2010 | £760 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm 1920 c. Probably by | — | July 2010 | £769 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Brooklyn, 1930 c. | — | February 2010 | £924 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm Brooklyn, 1946 n°202 | — | December 2009 | £478 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Brooklyn, 1941 n°206 | — | December 2009 | £625 |
| Violin | 36.3 cm Brooklyn, 1946 n°202 | — | June 2009 | £604 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm 1950 | — | March 2009 | £546 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm New York, 1943 c. n°206 | — | March 2009 | £758 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Brooklyn, 1930 c. | — | February 2009 | £450 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Brooklyn, 1946 | — | February 2009 | £450 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Brooklyn, NY | — | December 2008 | £454 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Brooklyn, 1925 c. | — | October 2008 | £487 |
| Viola | 42.2 cm New York, 1945 | — | October 2007 | £806 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm New York, 1930 c. | — | October 2007 | £633 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Brooklyn, 1938 | — | July 2007 | £729 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Brooklyn, 1937 | — | February 2007 | £1,002 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Brooklyn, 1938 | — | July 2006 | £812 |
| Violin | 36.2 cm Brooklyn, 1944 | — | February 2006 | £497 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Brooklyn, 1943 | — | February 2006 | £861 |
| Violin | 1918 | — | October 2005 | £603 |
| Violin | 1938 | — | May 2005 | £499 |
| Violin | Brooklyn, 1930 c. | — | February 2005 | £525 |
| Violin | Brooklyn, 1948 | — | October 2004 | £700 |
| Violin | Brooklyn, 1919 | — | May 2004 | £611 |
| Violin | New York | — | May 2004 | £611 |
| Violin | 1948 | — | June 2002 | £1,208 |
| Violin | 1936 | — | May 2000 | £672 |
| Violin | 1930 c. | — | May 2000 | £382 |
| Violin | 19-- | — | November 1998 | £312 |
| Violin | 1925 | — | November 1997 | £442 |
| Violin | 1946 | — | November 1997 | £323 |
| Violin | 1919 | — | November 1996 | £279 |
| Violin | 19-- | — | May 1996 | £526 |
| Violin | 1950 | — | May 1996 | £489 |
| Violin | 19-- | — | December 1995 | £687 |
| Violin | 1920 | — | May 1995 | £611 |
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Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
WILKANOWSKI, Willie Born 1886 Poland, Worked circa. 1920-1940 Boston & New York USA. Active from 1895. Emigrated to the USA 1920 and worked for Oliver Ditson in Boston, and from 1938 for Gretsch in New York. Said to have made 5,000 violins, 100 violas, and 30 guitars. Cremonese and personal models. Own amber-oil varnish. Later examples have the purfling worked into a ‘W’ at the back button.
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