Fra Agostino Facini

Name: Fra Agostino Facini auction price records, Amati Instrument Archive
Creator: Amati

Bologna, worked 1731–1742

Monk of the Order of Saint Jean de Dieu. Cremonese models with nicely carved scroll. Fine yellow-brown varnish. Henley suggests he was a pupil of Tononi. Vannes cites an inscription ‘Facini di Venezia anno 1698’ and speculates that this may be the same maker. Manuscript label: Fr. Augustinus Facini \u{2026} — John Dilworth

Worked Bologna

Made Violin

Auction price history

Highest auction price

£35,952

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	35.7 cm Bologne, 1750 c.	December 2006	£35,952
Violin	35.5 cm Bologna, 1722	May 2006	£21,461
Violin	1740 c.	June 1991	£9,900

Maker Overview

Life

Fra Agostino Facini (circa 1731-1742) was a monk of the Order of Saint Jean de Dieu who worked in Bologna, Italy. in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, he worked circa 1731-1742 in Bologna, Italy. However, Vannes cites an inscription 'Facini di Venezia anno 1698' and speculates that this may be the same maker, indicating conflicting information regarding his working dates and location. A manuscript label reads: 'Fr. Augustinus Facini / Ords. S. Joanis de Deo / fecit Bononiae. 1737'.

Characteristics

Workmanship: Instruments produced by Fra Agostino Facini are characterized by good work and attractive form.
Varnish: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, notes a beautiful yellow varnish, while John Dilworth describes a fine yellow-brown varnish.
F-holes: The F-holes are cut after Stradivari.
Tone: The tone of his instruments is soft and noble.
Models: He utilized Cremonese models.
Scroll: Instruments feature a nicely carved scroll.

Recorded labels

Fr. Augustinus Facini
Ords. S. Joanis de Deo
fecit Bononiae. 1737John Dilworth

Influence and legacy

Mentorship: Henley suggests that Fra Agostino Facini was a pupil of Tononi.

Found an error? Report Now

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

FACINI, Fra Agostino Worked circa. 1731-1742 Bologna Italy. Monk of the Order of Saint Jean de Dieu. Cremonese models with nicely carved scroll. Fine yellow-brown varnish. Henley suggests he was a pupil of Tononi. Vannes cites an inscription ‘Facini di Venezia anno 1698’ and speculates that this may be the same maker. Manuscript label: Fr. Augustinus Facini / Ords. S. Joanis de Deo / fecit Bononiae. 1737

Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+

Ein Mönch aus dem Orden Johann’s von Gott. Seine Geigen zeichnen sich
durch gute Arbeit, reizvolle Form und schönen, gelben Lack aus. Die F-Löcher
sind nach Stradivari geschnitten, der Ton ist weich und edel.

Sell your instrument with Amati

Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.

Get a Valuation

Sell your instrument with Amati

Get started by uploading photos of your instrument for our experts to review.

Get a Valuation