New York School
Giovanni Virzi
New York, 1886–1970
Son and pupil of Rosario Virzi. Emigrated to the USA 1912. Worked in New York with brother Joseph Virzi, below, from 1913. Established on his own 1934. Stradivari, Guarneri, and Amati models. Own golden-orange oil varnish. Over 80 violins and a few violas and cellos completed. Seven different grades\u{2026} — John Dilworth
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 35.6 cm New York, 1941 | December 2010 | £2,850 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm N.Y., 1926, with patented bassbar doohickey | February 2010 | £654 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm [Made for] | May 2007 | £979 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm With the internal Virzi patented bass bar device | February 2006 | £994 |
| Violin | 1924 | October 2005 | £2,376 |
| Violin | 1925 | June 2002 | £528 |
| Violin | 1927 | November 1993 | £223 |
| Violin | 1922 | August 1993 | £1,012 |
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
VIRZI, Giovanni Born 1886 Palermo, Sicily Italy, died 1970 New York USA. Son and pupil of Rosario Virzi. Emigrated to the USA 1912. Worked in New York with brother Joseph Virzi, below, from 1913. Established on his own 1934. Stradivari, Guarneri, and Amati models. Own golden-orange oil varnish. Over 80 violins and a few violas and cellos completed. Seven different grades offered, the best quality labelled as ‘Virzi Art Model’, the cheaper instruments probably imported ‘trade’ work. Patented the ‘Virzi Tone Producer’ (1922) – a plate fitted to the bass bar of all his subsequent instruments. Diploma awarded at the Rome exposition in 1925.
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Working in New York at the same time
A. D. Jones b. 1893
Albert Ferdinando Moglie 1890–1983
Alvin C. Baker b. 1862
And Howard Gittelson worked 1918
And Son C. Bruno worked 1884–1924
Andreas Koch worked 1923
Antonio Galanti worked 1908
Arthur W. Howe 1878–1952