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Jago Peternella, from Venice,Italy


Victor J. Colon

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I'm traveling and don't have any reference materials with me......but If I'm not mistaken... I believe this maker was from Verona. I've seen his name spelled in a couple different ways (slight variations). If I am correct, I recall that he worked in NY for a time, then moved on to California (San Diego?) before returning to Italy (where I believe he retired).

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Hi Fubbi:

You may be correct. This may be a different maker than I am recalling... Didn't one go through Tarsio a while back?

Question though: Which edition of Brinser do you have? I just checked a colleague's copy and J. Paternella is listed... but no city given (pg 55; 1978 Edition). Didn't have time to check the label section...

I also checked my colleagues Wenberg text. The maker to whom I was referring to above is listed as "Jargo Petrenela". (Verona; NY; CA)

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I think you were collating the two makers, Jeffrey, for though he was raised and began work in Venice, Jago Peternella indeed lived in San Diego for a long spell (I'm pretty sure, anyway) before moving back to Venice late in life. His violas fetch a nice price (I believe one is--or was--listed in Maestronet's Showroom with an asking price of 50K!!). We were looking at a lovely violin by him made during his US period, but it seemed pricey. His earlier Venetian work is supposed to be more highly valued (though we also played an earlier Peternella that was completely unimpressive). As he became older, he would write little loving phrases on the labels: "Cantare mi" or something like that (excuse my mispelling of the Italian--"Sing to me"??) was the inscription on the violin of the later period violin we looked at.

J.

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We have a nice violin of his from 1927. I assume that the wide range of prices comes from what we have encountered in the past when getting appraisals--is the instrument from his US production or his Italy period? I haven't seen the low end price that was mentioned, but a NY shop does currently have a viola for $50K. A few other shops currently have violins in the $12K-$20K range.

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Yes I agree with you about the writings on the label. The one I have has a nice Signature and "La Bella Viola di Jago Paternella"writen . This Viola is from 1963 and one can notice the decline in the details, like cut marks on the plates etc. etc.

Thak you all for your help

Cordially

Hope to see you at the 2002-VSA Convention

Vic

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Fubbi,

Like you, I'm sure I've read that he was born in Venice, but can't recall the source (which also discussed the valuation differences between his European & American production)--and am sure that the older fiddle (from the twenties or thirties) said "Venice" on the label (as Victor Colon's does). So it's probably all the same guy. Sorry if I've added to the confusion.

J.

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A colleague provided the name of a person who may indeed be able to help sort this out... I think the "two" makers we are speaking of here may be the the same... I do know of a viola by the maker(s) in question, but the label doesn't help us.

I'll try and check this out further I have timne (it'll be a few days).

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I believe that there is only one Jago Peternella who is known to have made violins,and that other variants are misspellings,and there seems to be a few.On an early violin from I believe 1914,he refers to himself as Veronese,which I take to be from Verona,even though he made the violin in Venice.His work doesn't show that strong of a Venetian influence,though this violin did bear some resemblance to a Giorgio Ullmann,another transplant to Venice.He did work in a couple US cities at least,and his later work is completely different,usually a big flat,and slightly crude Guarneri model.The later ones usually say Venice despite being made here.I personally value the earlier stuff more highly,though this doesn't mean that they are tonally superior.(I do currently have one from the 20s if anyone needs one) regards,

Andrew Weinstein

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  • 20 years later...

Very interesting article, thank you for posting.

 

I bought my Jago Peternella violin nearly 20 years ago. The owner’s mother had commissioned two instruments, a violin for him and a viola for his brother. She had taken art lessons from Jago and had been a personal friend in San Diego when he resided there.

 

I recall his mother had a number of letters Jago had written to her which she offered to me (over the phone) at a price, but my interest was in the instrument itself.

 

Additionally the son, an artist, told me that Peternella had been a close personal friend of Degani for many years and that they had come to America at the same time (for what it’s worth).

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