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113:

A VIOLIN BY GIUSEPPE ORNATI, MILAN, 1949

113: A VIOLIN BY GIUSEPPE ORNATI, MILAN, 1949


Labeled, "Giuseppe Ornati fece in Milano Anno 1949." Signed to the label.

Branded to the inside back, "Giuseppe Ornati Milano." Original pegs. 

LOB: 35.6 cm

This violin by Giuseppe Ornati was made in 1949 and survives in exceptionally fine condition, retaining a plentiful coat of deep, lustrous orange-red original varnish, its original pegs, and remarkably little wear overall. Such preservation is unusual for an instrument of this age. It is offered together with an original letter from Ornati and two further certificates, adding an important layer of documented history to an already exceptional example.

Ornati trained under Luigi Montanari before joining Leandro Bisiach’s workshop in 1903, where he worked alongside Gaetano Sgarabotto and remained for nearly two decades. His position there was one of considerable trust: Bisiach even entrusted him with the training of his own sons. Ornati established himself independently around 1919 and won the first of numerous competition prizes in Rome the following year, continuing to exhibit and compete successfully well into later life.

Rather than simply reproducing the work of Stradivari or Amati, Ornati developed a highly personal interpretation of classical Cremonese models, rooted in the Antoniazzi–Bisiach tradition and often described as distinctly Amatese in character. By 1949 he was firmly established as one of the leading Italian makers of his generation, and this violin is a particularly fine example of his mature, independent style.
  • Proforma Certificate: Jason Price, New York, NY (Sep 16 2026)
  • Dendrochronology report: Sondre Lie, Oslo (Sep 10 2026) Dates the latest ring of the bass and treble side as 1882 and 1898, respectively.
  • Certificate: Étienne Vatelot, Paris (Sep 10 1973)
  • Letter certificate: Giuseppe Ornati, Milan (May 7 1960)

View Documents


Ending on Oct 1 at
4:24 PM Berlin / 3:24 PM London / 10:24 AM New York

Estimate: €60,000–90,000

Bidding opens Sep 22, 2026 11:00 AM CEST

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Ω - TI - non-antique - additional 19% import VAT charged on the hammer
‡ - TI - antique - additional 19% import VAT charged on the hammer
† - Normal VAT rules - 19% VAT charged on hammer and premium
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