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.
You might want to ask someone who is knowledgeable about violins for his opinion. You can start at your local orchestra and ask the first or second violinist for his opinion. This shouldn't be misconstrued as conclusive, but it is a good start.
Whenever you hire the services of a professional appraiser, always go for a written proof. It will be more expensive, but at least you will have a record of your claim as well as the references regarding how he arrived at the value.
With your written references, it is best to have your copy restored. This will make it more respectable in case potential buyers are interested in your copy. You might be surprised that these simple violin appraisals can net you in excess of ten thousand dollars at one time.
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.
You might want to ask someone who is knowledgeable about violins for his opinion. You can start at your local orchestra and ask the first or second violinist for his opinion. This shouldn't be misconstrued as conclusive, but it is a good start.
Whenever you hire the services of a professional appraiser, always go for a written proof. It will be more expensive, but at least you will have a record of your claim as well as the references regarding how he arrived at the value.
With your written references, it is best to have your copy restored. This will make it more respectable in case potential buyers are interested in your copy. You might be surprised that these simple violin appraisals can net you in excess of ten thousand dollars at one time.
violin appraisals
