I have an old violin with the following label inside, is it worth anything?
ANTONIUS STRADIVARIUS CREMONENSIS
Faciebat Anno 1713
made in Czechoslovakia

Depends on its condition. Might get £50 on ebay.

liz

I have a 1790 violin is it worth anything? label reads matthias klol gergenmaherin mihenaacd ander ano.1790

They are all copies
All violins made by luthiers centuries ago are almost all accounted for. A chance of missing authentic violin is zero to none. But this doesn`t mean the violin has no value. People will pay lots of money for old violins even if they are copies.

true

not all new instruments sound bad. Keep in mind that Stradivari became famous in his lifetime by selling NEW instruments!

take in to consideration that cheap new violins are machine made these days.

even expensive ones

O I don`t think so. Chinese labour is very cheap and even the cheapest instruments we sell are advertised as being handmade. It means nothing at all.

Liz

Why is this thread so popular? It hasn`t been written in since a year ago. Obviously, we all like to read about others arguing.

Hello everyone,
I have, due to the recent death of my grandmother, aquired a quite aged and very distressed Viola. At first i found the empty case which completely fell apart on contact, inside there where the remains of a bow. Alas these where thrown away and several days later after a long hard slog through 90 years of stored possesions i came across the "6 pieces" of a viola, abandoned and forgotton, scattered in the corner underneath a small broken window. The label is virtually unreadable due to mould and other growth accumalated over 50 odd years or so in my grandmothers attic. You can make out 1830, Andreas Guamerius and Cremone. There are also other numbers or letters handwritten in ink but they are unreadable. I have been told by a friend (knowledgable of wood, not, unfortunately with instruments) that the Viola, or at least some of it is made from Birds-eye Maple, The back, which is the only completely intact part measures 16 1/4" I also found the bridge,four complete strings, the cone shaped thing that holds the strings on the main body (so very sorry for being absolutely dense) four black wooden pegs and five other wooden pieces that make up the front of the viola, I have jigsawed the pieces together and though i am definately not an expert i looks to me as though the whole of the main body is here. The thing is what do i do next? How do i find out more about this Viola, can anyone tell me of a website that can help me identify this viola, i dont want to look foolish going to a restorer with it without knowing a little about the item and whether or not it will be worth having it restored.
My remaining family do not really have any idea of the origin of the viola, in fact most didnt now anything about it, however it belonged to my great-great-grandfather who was born in Belgium.
Any help,tips or advise would be greatly appreciated as it would be a shame to have my future grandchildren retracing my exact footsteps in another 50 years time........... Wouldnt it?

Regards Looby

It`s most unlikely to be worth the repair costs which will be huge. Pity ....

Liz

Hi,
Thanks for the very quick response to my message. You have got me very curious as to why you think its a pity, do you not think its at least worth me trying to find out at least something about the history of this lovely little viola? Please try to point me in the right direction if you can, even if its worthless and i never get it repaired at least i will have tried to find out about it. Plus i am bord and it will give me something to do LOL.
Many thanks Looby.

I have a Violin that reads " Andreas Guarnerius fecit cremone fub titulo Sandae Terefiae 16" on the sticker inside of the violin. Also on the sticker it is labeled "German Manufacturer". I would like help on finding out more information on the instrument.

If at all possible I would like more than just your opinion....
Thanks, Adam

the reasons why this thread is so popular is because everyone keeps dropping the actual subject (which is dans violin) and asking questions about their own violin... isnt this fun?