If it is, it will not have a readable label with the name on it. THE DILEMMA: I have recently inherited what seems to be a 1772 violin by the Milanese maker Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi (1710–87). Stradivari died in 1737. Stradivari only printed a first digit “1” and the last three digits were hand Being able to identify the instrument’s In some cases, identifying your violin's maker may not be possible without taking it to a professional. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website (Cookie Policy). important and obscure Italian names were also used on labels by factories, The first thing to think about is the reason you need a certificate. Telling a fake Stradivarius from the real deal isn't too hard, instrument experts say. You can test the instrument using infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which is a complicated way of analyzing the chemical properties of the violin’s backboard. The reason is there are so many fake labels out there to portray original Stradivarius violins. Antonio Stradivari used hand-written labels, and his handwriting was atrocious. shortage of violins that bare the label, “Antonius The first question we ask them is how much more they themselves know about the instrument: for example, how it came into their family’s possession. There are several ways to identify a real Stradivarius violin: Find the traditional Stradivarius label. Most good shops will do a verbal assessment. It contains a Latin description- “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno”. People often write me about instruments with Stradivarius labels, violins which have turned up in an attic, closet, cupboard, or garage sale. Often times, these are crudely made student instruments that wouldn’t sell, so shops and dealers would label an instrument suggesting some quality. Keep in mind that these documents become legal documents, and could possibly need to be defended in court. The last two numbers of the year are usually written … Heberlein or JTL. Musicians talk about and demonstrate instruments donated to the Library of Congress by Gertrude Clarke Whittall in 1935. The label reads: "Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonenfis; Faciebat Anno 17 ", which means "Antonius Stradivari made this in Cremona in 17 ". the makers name. Here’s how to help, Desmond Cecil: my search for the perfect violin, Fabio Biondi: The 1690 ‘Tuscan’ Stradivari, In Focus: A 1729 violin by Pietro Gallinotti, Trade Secrets: Reinforcing a cello bridge. away any instrument. Often times, these are crudely made student instruments that wouldn’t sell, so shops and dealers would var BCData = {"csrf_token":"8462dbb6649dd7fafdf7ca17f90978da51d34fc9c61914ad34048ec706537a38"}; Posted by Jarek Powichrowski on 4th Dec 2015. They seek my expert advice, and ask me to help them Published on January 2, 2017 January 2, 2017 by belcantoviolins Leave a comment. If you have an instrument that is dated outside the timeline of Antonius Stradivarius's life, it is not a Stradivarius. Of the many theories swirling around why legendary Stradivarius violins are so great (aside from, you know, it's just all in our heads), almost all have something to do with the wood. Once in a while, it can be of some value on its own. last two digits were hand written. Violins that sound "nasally" and/or "thin" are typically factory-made, and not as valuable. The violin can be in various states of disrepair, but normally there is no documented history on them, only a family oral tradition. First, Stradivarius was a real person (Antonius Stradivarius). vgo('setAccount', '800066271'); The odds against it being an original are probably a lot greater than your odds of winning Powerball. in Italy You can find on our website rosin, strings and bows. funny! Serious bidders only!!!!! There are several ways to tell a real Strad from a copy. written (see pictures). Hardly a day goes by at our shop when we are not visited by customers wanting to know about an old violin that has been in their family for decades. There are probably millions of these instruments out there, hiding under beds, in closets or basements. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookie settings at any time. If the violin is clearly not a Landolfi and simply an old violin with a reproduction label, an experienced shop should be able to tell you that. I think the level of expertise amongst top string instrument specialists is higher than ever before, but those experts feel they need to very cautious in making their judgements. Apparently, the Stradivarius name has been passed down through his sons and only the ones made by him himself are worth the BIG moneys but the ones his sons made are good too. I would like to get an insurance certificate, but I understand that some instrument dealers are more respected than others when it comes to authentication. This is a question we receive from instrument owners quite frequently. opportunity of playing it to a young talented musician. You instantly recognize them.” The top of the violin, made from spruce, has different widths of grain. vgo('process'); We also professionally re hair bows, restore violins and bows and purchase instruments outright. If you are still not sure about your find you might consider sending us pictures of instrument and bow ( front, back and side of the scroll) via our contact us page. Hii, I have an over 60 year old violin in good condition with Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1713 , Made in Czechoslovakia written on the label inside, IT looks real to me.Could you please help me authenticate my violin. Our firm will charge five per cent of the instrument’s perceived value for a certificate of authenticity, which includes an insurance appraisal. find myself working with clients with the hope that they have found a genuine One of the biggest things to consider with a violin is the quality of sound. For any experienced violin maker or restorer it takes one second to know a real Stradivarius from an average copy. understand what they have really found in their attic. With only 650 in existence today, these immaculate works of art are prized as much for their unique and supreme craftsmanship and … Sean Bishop is a London-based instrument dealer and owner of Bishop Instruments & Bows. I have done a lot of research and this one measures up and the label is correct but they say there were thousands of replicas made. People bought these violins, thinking them to be genuinely to be a violin by Stradivarius, and rang their Congressman in fury when the instrument turned out to be fake. You spoke of two different documents. A reader has inherited an old Italian violin, in this case a Landolfi. Antonio Stradivarius Violins • Antonio Stradivari. Bring it to an expert and have it examined – it might You can’t read one, and most of the surviving instruments have lost their labels anyway. In fact, finding a violin in a grandparent’s attic is some people’s first introduction to the stringed-instrument world. workshops and dealers of instruments: Amati, Guarneri, Gagliano, Ruggieri and label an instrument to suggest quality. Figuring out the maker of an unknown violin takes a trained eye and a detective’s skill, says luthier John Dilworth. is fairly modern – a font unknown in the 18th century. 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How does one set a price on a genuine Stradivarius instrument? The first step is to establish what your violin really is. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. I found a "real" Stradivarius violin!! The first way to tell if your instrument is old (modern), old (actually old) or fake old, is to look for a neck graft. After he died, his sons continued in the business. If it is, it will not have a readable label with the name on it. I am curious if anybody knows how to tell a real Stradivarius from a fake? Many other There are also auction houses that specialise in stringed instruments, whose experts often travel around the country looking for instruments and bows for their sales and they may come to your area. - YouTube. But, he said, “When you’re a violin expert, it’s like looking at a family member. Antonio Stradivari used hand-written labels, and his handwriting was atrocious. The process might take some time, although if we decide it’s not genuine, the conclusion will often be much faster. Good luck with the interesting task ahead. There is certainly a demand for old instruments, Here he gives his personal perspective on the clues and processes of elimination that help experts … He was born in Cremona, Italy in 1644 and he worked there until his death in 1737. Stradivari instruments had a printed label, written in Latin. A beginner's guide to identifying a Stradivarius Figuring out the maker of an unknown violin takes a trained eye and a detective’s skill, says luthier John Dilworth. Landolfi is a famous maker and his instruments can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, so it's best to try and get it right! In great shape for a 200+ year old instrument!!! You mentioned that you are looking for a certificate for insurance purposes; however, perhaps all you need is an insurance valuation. many others. Tag: stradivarius How to tell if my Violin is of real antique value or a useless copy. Some of these instruments read, “Made in Germany” or “Made in Czechoslovakia” and some only state Most of them are 100-year-old cheap student instruments from Saxony or Bohemia, but sometimes better, more interesting instruments do appear. One should also give attention to the font. With Robert Mann, Alexis Galperine, Miles Hoffman, Rene Morel, Young Uck Kim, Daniel Phillips, and Samuel Zygmuntowicz. Most shops will only write certificates of authenticity on instruments and bows that they sell. If you can find an expert who will agree to help you, expect to take the violin to them, and expect to pay handsomely for the service. To be fair, in most situations like the one you describe, the violin in question turns out not to be one by the maker labelled. In fact, certificates nearly always state: ‘In our opinion.’ Every day, violin dealers see instruments that have old certificates that we might not agree with, but which was the judgement of the ‘expert’ at that time. violinist, New York trained string instrument If you don’t know whether your violin is made by Stradivarius, it probably isn’t. Often times, these are crudely made student instruments that wouldn’t sell, so shops and dealers would label an instrument to suggest quality. It appears to be in excellent condition, and has been stored safely in an airtight case for many years. So, never throw A: Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) made violins, violas, cellos, guitars and harps in his shop in Cremona, Italy. 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