This violin was made by Alberto Moglie in Washington, DC in 1932.
Albert Ferdinando Moglie (1890–1983) was an Italian-born luthier, violin maker, and expert restorer known for his work in Europe and the United States. Born in Rome, Italy, he trained under Antonio Sgarbi and completed his first instrument in 1908. He gained early experience working for renowned makers including Luigi Embergher, Rudolpho Fredi, and Giuseppe Rossi, and further developed his craft in Paris with Hippolyte Silvestre before moving to Milan to work for Leandro Bisiach. Moglie held prestigious positions as luthier to the Constanzi Opera House, the Augusteum Symphony Orchestra, and the Conservatoire. In 1914, he emigrated to the United States to work for the Rudolf Wurlitzer Company in Cincinnati, later transferring to New York in 1917 where he established his own workshop, before relocating to Washington, D.C. in 1922. From 1931, he was responsible for the care of the instrument collection at the Library of Congress. Although he completed his last instrument in 1936, he continued restoration and repair work for decades. Moglie is best known for his exceptional restoration skills and for crafting over 100 violins, six violas, and three cellos, many of which are precise reproductions of classical Italian instruments, making his work highly regarded among musicians and collectors.
