Amati > Makers Archive > W > Willie Wilkanowski

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. β€” John Dilworth
Worked Brooklyn, New York
Made Viola, Violin
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Auction Price History

Highest auction price

£1,708

51 results

Type Details Auction house Sold Price
ViolinBearing the maker's label and brand, fair condition Lot 812—December 2025Β£1,209est. € 1.000-1.200
ViolaVery good condition Lot 276—November 2021Β£1,708est. CHF 1,500-2,000
ViolinLabelled Enrico Robella, Milano 1936, Copy of Ant. Stradivarius Lot 88—February 2020Β£1,367est. $ 1,500-2,200
ViolinBearing the maker's internal brand, replaced bass bar, repaired top cracks, touch-up to varnish Lot 260—November 2019Β£455est. $ 400-600
ViolinJerry Weene collection, bearing the maker's label n. 204, compound sound post crack to back Lot 345—June 2019Β£828est. $ 400-600
ViolinBearing the maker's label, multiple repaired top cracks, reglued back center seam, scratches and abrasions Lot 1117—May 2018Β£361est. $ 600-800
ViolaBearing the maker's label, button broken and reglued, minor top cracks, some damage to varnish Lot 33—November 2017Β£789est. $ 800-1,200
ViolinUnlabelled, open seams, missing lower block, plate distortion Lot 126—May 2017Β£216est. $ 400-600
ViolinBearing the maker's label no. 302, two-piece back Lot 175—November 2014Β£660est. $ 800-1,200
ViolinLabelled M. Wilkanowski, Violin Maker Brooklyn, NY, 1925, branded to the inside back M. Wilkanowski Lot 201—June 2014Β£672est. $ 800-1,200
ViolinBranded to the inside back W. Wilkanowski ... Lot 225—December 2012Β£1,116est. $ 1,000-1,500
ViolinLabelled W. Wilkanowski, 1940, #202 Lot 226—December 2012Β£818est. $ 1,000-1,500
ViolinBearing the maker's label Lot 345—April 2012Β£721est. $ 1,800-2,400
Violin35.5 cm Brooklyn, c. 1931—December 2011Β£774
Violin36.0 cm New York, 1943—November 2011Β£443
Violin35.9 cm Brooklyn, 1920 c.—December 2010Β£760
Violin36.3 cm 1920 c. Probably by—July 2010Β£769
Violin35.9 cm Brooklyn, 1930 c.—February 2010Β£924
Violin36.3 cm Brooklyn, 1946 n°202—December 2009Β£478
Violin35.8 cm Brooklyn, 1941 n°206—December 2009Β£625
Violin36.3 cm Brooklyn, 1946 n°202—June 2009Β£604
Violin35.7 cm 1950—March 2009Β£546
Violin36.1 cm New York, 1943 c. n°206—March 2009Β£758
Violin36.0 cm Brooklyn, 1930 c.—February 2009Β£450
Violin36.0 cm Brooklyn, 1946—February 2009Β£450
Violin36.1 cm Brooklyn, NY—December 2008Β£454
Violin35.7 cm Brooklyn, 1925 c.—October 2008Β£487
Viola42.2 cm New York, 1945—October 2007Β£806
Violin35.5 cm New York, 1930 c.—October 2007Β£633
Violin36.1 cm Brooklyn, 1938—July 2007Β£729
Violin36.2 cm Brooklyn, 1937—February 2007Β£1,002
Violin36.1 cm Brooklyn, 1938—July 2006Β£812
Violin36.2 cm Brooklyn, 1944—February 2006Β£497
Violin36.1 cm Brooklyn, 1943—February 2006Β£861
Violin1918—October 2005Β£603
Violin1938—May 2005Β£499
ViolinBrooklyn, 1930 c.—February 2005Β£525
ViolinBrooklyn, 1948—October 2004Β£700
ViolinBrooklyn, 1919—May 2004Β£611
ViolinNew York—May 2004Β£611
Violin1948—June 2002Β£1,208
Violin1936—May 2000Β£672
Violin1930 c.—May 2000Β£382
Violin19--—November 1998Β£312
Violin1925—November 1997Β£442
Violin1946—November 1997Β£323
Violin1919—November 1996Β£279
Violin19--—May 1996Β£526
Violin1950—May 1996Β£489
Violin19--—December 1995Β£687
Violin1920—May 1995Β£611

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 β€˜W’ at the back button.

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