Ascoli Piceno School
Emilio Celani
Ascoli Piceno, 1866–1898
Emilio Celani (1866-1898) was an Italian luthier from Ascoli Piceno, known as 'The Turk'. He was the brother of Constantino Celani and produced a significant number of violins, often based on an Andrea Guarneri model with a transparent yellow varnish, as well as over 200 guitars and mandolins. His work is documented by John Dilworth and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | March 2012 | £4,500 | |
| Violin | 36.0 cm Piceno, 1888 | November 2011 | £12,029 |
| Violin | 35.0 cm Ascoli Piceno, 1890 c. | October 2008 | £11,115 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Ascoli Piceno, 1898 | December 2006 | £1,676 |
| Violin | Ascoli Piceno, 1890 | May 2004 | £8,364 |
| Viola | 41.6 cm 1880 c. | November 1988 | £13,200 |
Maker Overview
Life
Emilio Celani (1866-1898) was born in 1866 and died in 1898 in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. He was the brother of Constantino Celani and was known as 'The Turk'. in The Brompton’s Book of Violin & Bow Makers, Celani was a prolific maker.
Characteristics
- Instrument Production
- Emilio Celani was a prolific maker of violins, guitars, and mandolins.
- Violin Model
- His violins were based on an Andrea Guarneri model.
- Varnish
- He used a transparent yellow varnish, similar to that of his brother.
- Quantity
- He also made over 200 guitars and mandolins.
- Skill
- Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, noted that he built violins, mandolins, and guitars and was not unskillful.
- Emilio Celani
fece in Ascoli Piceno 1881John Dilworth - Emilio Celani
detto il Turco
fece in Ascoli Piceno 1896John Dilworth
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
CELANI, Emilio Born 1866, died 1898 Ascoli Piceno Italy. Brother of Constantino Celani, above. Known as ‘The Turk’. Prolific maker of violins based on an Andrea Guarneri model, with transparent yellow varnish like that of his brother. Also made over 200 guitars and mandolins. Emilio Celani / fece in Ascoli Piceno 1881 Emilio Celani / detto il Turco / fece in Ascoli Piceno 1896
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er baute Geigen, Mandolinen und Guitarren und war nicht ungeschickt.
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Pupils
Constantino Celani Pupil
Family
Constantino Celani Brother
Working in Ascoli Piceno at the same time
Adelino Galeazzi 1828–1910
Constantino Celani 1869–1953
Emidio Gianmarini 1865–1915
Luigi Celani worked 1890–1896
Orlando Orlandi b. 1875
Ugo Baiocchi worked 1895–1913