An old violin in your cabinet that's been handed down to you by a distant uncle might actually be worth something if you follow the progress of current violin appraisals. It's not rare to find someone who's earned tens of thousands of dollars from the sale of an old instrument. Before you jump for joy at the prospect, you should learn some of the basics before having your copy appraised by a professional.
Don't rush to the nearest dealer just yet as there are many signs that you can find to help you with your own evaluation. If your copy has the words Stradivari, Amati or Guarneri, that does not immediately qualify it as the real deal. It may in fact be an old copy that has been passed along as a fake. This was a common practice around two hundred years ago, so you shouldn't be surprised if your instrument fits this category.
Even if your instrument is only a fake, it could still be worth several thousand dollars depending on its quality. There were actually many good luthiers all over Europe that purposely wrote down the names of the more famous craftsmen to make them easier to sell. Many of these fakes actually produced beautiful tones, so don't immediately write of your copy if it sounds great and is in fine condition.
If the label is in English and it clearly states where it was made, then it is probably a factory manufactured violin. If however the label is old and matches the rest of the instrument, then it could be potentially worth a lot of money. You will still have to have it appraised as no buyer would purchase it base solely on the label.
The best way to be sure about your copy is to ask a professional. You don't need to take it to an appraiser immediately, but someone who has extensive knowledge handling these instruments will be much better than no one at all. If your area has a local orchestra, ask for the opinion of the first violinist. He will have a good opinion of your instrument and will also be able to recommend you a good appraiser. If you live near a reputable music school, asking the string faculty will also be very useful.
He may be able to recommend to you a good appraiser that you can hire. The cost of this usually is usually around five to ten percent of the value indicated, but many appraisers charge much lower fees. Be sure to get a written appraisal just in case.
The total cost for most violin appraisals will only be around six or seven percent of the value of the instrument. This is a small amount compared to the thousands of dollars you will might potential earn from your violin.
violin appraisals
Don't rush to the nearest dealer just yet as there are many signs that you can find to help you with your own evaluation. If your copy has the words Stradivari, Amati or Guarneri, that does not immediately qualify it as the real deal. It may in fact be an old copy that has been passed along as a fake. This was a common practice around two hundred years ago, so you shouldn't be surprised if your instrument fits this category.
Even if your instrument is only a fake, it could still be worth several thousand dollars depending on its quality. There were actually many good luthiers all over Europe that purposely wrote down the names of the more famous craftsmen to make them easier to sell. Many of these fakes actually produced beautiful tones, so don't immediately write of your copy if it sounds great and is in fine condition.
If the label is in English and it clearly states where it was made, then it is probably a factory manufactured violin. If however the label is old and matches the rest of the instrument, then it could be potentially worth a lot of money. You will still have to have it appraised as no buyer would purchase it base solely on the label.
The best way to be sure about your copy is to ask a professional. You don't need to take it to an appraiser immediately, but someone who has extensive knowledge handling these instruments will be much better than no one at all. If your area has a local orchestra, ask for the opinion of the first violinist. He will have a good opinion of your instrument and will also be able to recommend you a good appraiser. If you live near a reputable music school, asking the string faculty will also be very useful.
He may be able to recommend to you a good appraiser that you can hire. The cost of this usually is usually around five to ten percent of the value indicated, but many appraisers charge much lower fees. Be sure to get a written appraisal just in case.
The total cost for most violin appraisals will only be around six or seven percent of the value of the instrument. This is a small amount compared to the thousands of dollars you will might potential earn from your violin.
violin appraisals
No comments:
Post a Comment