Romeo Antoniazzi
Cremona, Lille, Milan, 1862–1925
Romeo Antoniazzi (1862-1925) was a distinguished Italian violin maker, born in Cremona and active primarily in Milan, despite his labels often indicating Cremona. The younger son and pupil of Gaetano Antoniazzi, he also worked with Bisiach and Monzino. He established his own workshop in Milan in 1887, later moving to Cremona to take over his father's business, though sources conflict on his primary working location. Antoniazzi was known for his instruments based on Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, Guadagnini, and Pressenda models, as well as his own personal design incorporating a unique theory of plate thickness. His work, characterized by a clear orange-brown varnish, earned him gold and silver medals at exhibitions in Milan, Turin, and Paris. He also trained notable pupils such as G. Pedrazzini, F. Garimberti, and P. Parravincini.
Instruments
Auction Price History
Highest auction price
56 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Bearing the maker's label and signature, good condition Lot 25 | Laurent | December 2024 | £39,349est. € 40.000-45.000 |
| Violin | Labelled Antoniazzi Romeo Cremonese fece presso Leandro Bisiach in Milano l'anno 1911 Lot 109 | Tarisio | March 2024 | £37,512est. $ 30,000-50,000 |
| Cello | Lot 174 | Bonhams | May 2014 | £31,250 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Lille, 1902 Attributed to his workshop | — | November 2011 | £12,557 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Cremona, 1907 | — | October 2011 | £25,000 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Cremona, 1914 | — | May 2011 | £23,671 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Milan, 1908 | — | March 2011 | £30,000 |
| Violin | 35.9 cm 1909 | — | March 2011 | £28,800 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Crémone, 1922 | — | December 2010 | £26,926 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Cremona, 1880-1890 c. | — | December 2009 | £22,849 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm 20th C. Ascribed to | — | October 2009 | £8,156 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Milan, 1914 | — | October 2009 | £19,200 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Cremona, 1915 Workshop of | — | October 2009 | £9,375 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm Italy, 1900 c. Workshop of | — | April 2009 | £13,546 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm 1905 c. (restorations) Attributed to | — | March 2009 | £4,800 |
| Violin | 35.6 cm Milan, 1911 | — | March 2009 | £14,375 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Milan, 1900 c. | — | October 2008 | £20,866 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Milan, 1925 | — | October 2008 | £15,302 |
| Cello | 75 cm Italy, early 20th C. Ascribed to | — | October 2008 | £27,500 |
| Violin | 35.4 cm (scroll by another hand) Probably by | — | May 2007 | £4,609 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Milan, 1923 | — | May 2007 | £8,641 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm 1925 | — | May 2007 | £8,248 |
| Viola | 37.9 cm Milan, 1914 | — | February 2007 | £7,200 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Milan, 1901 | — | February 2007 | £24,000 |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Milan, 1915 c. | — | October 2006 | £15,325 |
| Viola | 42.2 cm 1900 c. [Attributed to "Romeo Antoniazzi", Possibly by "Giuseppe Sgarbi"] | — | October 2006 | £12,932 |
| Viola | 40.0 cm Cremona, 1921 | — | November 2005 | £19,738 |
| Violin | Cremona, 1917 | — | November 2005 | £3,316 |
| Violin | Milan, 1914 | — | November 2005 | £27,913 |
| Violin | — | March 2005 | £13,200 | |
| Violin | Cremona, 1919 | — | February 2005 | £13,200 |
| Violin | Attributed to | — | May 2004 | £12,224 |
| Violin | Ascribed to | — | May 2004 | £8,364 |
| Violin | Ascribed to | — | March 2004 | £4,200 |
| Violin | 1910 c. | — | November 2001 | £22,340 |
| Violin | 1910 | — | November 2000 | £10,800 |
| Violin | 1911 | — | November 1999 | £10,000 |
| Violin | 1908 | — | November 1999 | £13,800 |
| Violin | 1910 c. | — | November 1998 | £12,850 |
| Violin | 1909 | — | November 1998 | £16,675 |
| Violin | 1913 | — | March 1998 | £14,950 |
| Violin | 1905 | — | July 1997 | £10,000 |
| Violin | 1911 | — | June 1997 | £9,200 |
| Violin | 1912 | — | March 1996 | £9,200 |
| Violin | 1880 | — | November 1994 | £17,825 |
| Violin | 1907 | — | July 1993 | £20,700 |
| Violin | 1924 | — | March 1989 | £6,600 |
| Violin | 1913 | — | November 1986 | £4,840 |
| Violin | 1900 | — | May 1986 | £7,700 |
| Cello | 1910 | — | July 1985 | £10,800 |
| Violin | 1910 | — | July 1985 | £3,456 |
| Violin | 1910 | — | July 1985 | £3,240 |
| Violin | 1922 | — | June 1984 | £3,056 |
| Violin | 1880 | — | June 1983 | £3,571 |
| Violin | 1910 | — | November 1980 | £1,870 |
| Violin | 1910 c. | — | July 1980 | £1,100 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Romeo Antoniazzi (1862-1925) was born on May 4, 1862, in Cremona, and died in 1925 in Milan, Italy. He was the younger son of Gaetano Antoniazzi. in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, he worked with Bisiach and Monzino in Milan. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart states that after a 15-year period of study, he opened his own workshop in Milan in 1887 and soon moved it to Cremona, where he took over his father's business. However, Dilworth notes that while his labels give Cremona as his location, all his work was done in Milan. His best instruments come from the period between 1885 and 1910. Lütgendorff also clarifies that his brother Riccardo was a musician, not a violin maker.
Characteristics
- Models
- He built string instruments of all kinds, utilizing models by Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri, Guadagnini, and Pressenda. He also developed his own personal model, which incorporated a theory he established regarding the thickness of the back and top.
- Varnish
- His instruments feature a clear orange-brown varnish, which is sometimes described as rather hard and chippy.
- Workmanship
- His violins are noted for their beautiful workmanship and good tone. Generally, his work was a little less consistent than that of his elder brother, Riccardo.
- Labels
- His labels include inscriptions such as "Antoniazzi Romeo di Cremona / fece in Cremona l'anno 1890" and "Antoniazzi Romeo Cremonese / fece a Cremona l'anno 1906" [Blot II].
- Antoniazzi Romeo di Cremona
fece in Cremona l’anno 1890John Dilworth - Antoniazzi Romeo Cremonese
fece a Cremona l’anno 1906John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Mentorship: He was a student of his father, Gaetano Antoniazzi.
- Pupils: He trained a large number of pupils, including G. Pedrazzini, F. Garimberti, and P. Parravincini.
- Awards: He received gold and silver medals at various exhibitions, including Milan, Turin, and Paris. Specifically, he was awarded medals at Turin in 1898 and Paris in 1900.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
ANTONIAZZI, Romeo Born 1862 Cremona, died 1925 Milan Italy. Younger son of Gaetano Antoniazzi, Like his elder brother worked with Bisiach and Monzino in Milan, as well as training a large number of pupils, including G. Pedrazzini, F. Garimberti and P. Parravincini. Generally a little less consistent in his work than Riccardo, but his best instruments come from the period 1885-1910. Stradivari, Guarneri, and personal models, with clear orange-brown varnish, sometimes rather hard and chippy. His labels give Cremona as his location, although all his work was done in Milan. Gold and silver medals at Milan, Turin, and Paris Exhibitions. Antoniazzi Romeo di Cremona / fece in Cremona l’anno 1890 Antoniazzi Romeo Cremonese / fece a Cremona l’anno 1906 [Blot II]
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Geboren 4. Mai 1862 in Cremona, Sohn von Gaetano A., Schüler seines Vaters. Nach einer Studienzeit von 15 Jahren eröffnete er im Jahre 1887 in Mailand seine eigene Werkstatt und verlegte sie bald nach Cremona, wo er das Geschäft seines Vaters übernahm. Er baut Streichinstrumente aller Art nach Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri, Guadagnini und Pressenda und hat auch ein eigenes Modell, bei welchem eine von ihm aufgestellte Theorie der Dicke des Bodens und der Decke Verwendung findet. Seine Geigen sind von schöner Arbeit und gut im Ton. Er besitzt goldene und silberne Medaillen von Turin 1898, Paris 1900 etc. — Sein Bruder Riccardo ist nicht Geigenmacher, sondern Musiker.
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