(b Rome, 26 March 1922). American violin maker and restorer of Italian origin. His family left Rome and emigrated to the USA in 1935; in 1938 he went to work at the bench of Fernando Sacconi in the shop of Emil Herrmann in New York. Apart from a period in the armed forces in World War II, he worked with Sacconi continuously until 1973. In 1951, when Herrmann moved from New York, they both joined the firm of Rembert Wurlitzer, establishing a workshop there that became second to none. Following Wurlitzer’s death, D’Attili was appointed general manager in 1964. In spite of the demands of restoration work and (following the firm’s acquisition of the Hottinger Collection of rare violins in 1965) of appraisals and other business, he continued to make new violins at his home until about 1974. His fine-sounding and much appreciated instruments show a keen understanding of violins by the Italian masters, and a special admiration for those of Pietro Guarneri of Mantua. D’Attili devoted much time to the study of violin varnish, with excellent results. When Wurlitzer closed in 1974, D’Attili became associated with William Moennig & Son of Philadelphia through that firm’s purchase of the Wurlitzer collection, and he continued to advise them on former Wurlitzer instruments until 1982. He has continued to work as an independent appraiser, and is one of the most highly respected authorities on early violins and bows. Between 1992 and his retirement in 1998 he worked from his home in Ocoee, Florida.
CHARLES BEARE/PHILIP J. KASS